Liverpool Lead The Premier League Standings, Immediately Become The Favorite Champion

Mohamed Salah contributed two goals in Liverpool's win against Newcastle United (Instagram/@liverpoolfc).

JAKARTA - Liverpool earned three points when they hosted Newcastle United with a score of 4-2 in the 20th week of the 2022 Premier League at Anfield Stadium, Tuesday, January 2, 2023.

The victory made the Red One at the top of the standings with a collection of 45 points. That figure is three points ahead of Aston Villa who is in second place.

Statistically, Liverpool excels in every way. Throughout the dominance of possession of 64 percent, Jurgen Klopp's team managed to release 34 shots, 15 of which were on target.

The record is far from the visitors who only packed five shots, three of which headed into the net.

However, Liverpool's statistics were not very effective considering that Newcastel was able to score two goals with just three shots on target.

Judging by Opta's analysis, the Red did create the most shots in one Premier League match since the last time in 2010. However, they should have scored 7.27 goals in that match.

Apart from that, Liverpool most importantly sealed the three points. The goal itself was only created in the second half after the first half ended 0-0.

The Red one wasted a lot of chances in the first half. Mohamed Salah missed a penalty, while Darwin Nunez squandered eight shots into the net.

Mohamed Salah paid for the mistake by opening up the hosts' advantage in the 49th minute. However, that advantage did not last long.

Five minutes later, Alexander Isak equalized Mohamed Salah's opener.

Curtis Jones finally put the hosts back ahead in the 74th minute before Cody Gakpo sent Liverpool away 3-1 four minutes later.

Newcastle had caught up to 2-3 throughkombus Botman's goal in the 81st minute.

Liverpool locked the win four minutes before normal time ran out. Salah scored his second goal while completing the lead to 4-2.

This time, the Egyptian player's penalty was a success. The penalty was born after Diogo Jota was controversially brought down by Martin Dubravka.

The contribution of the brace was Mohamed Salah's last involvement with Liverpool before appearing in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. The winger had to miss playing for the club in the period January 13-11 February 2024.

Liverpool's victory which made him the leader of the standings immediately received positive comments from the football pundit, Gary Neville.

Speaking at Sky Sports, Neville said that Liverpool has great potential to win the 2023/2024 Premier League.

"Liverpool have the potential to become champions because of their position. Their manager is a sensational manager who knows how to do it. They have three or four world-class players."

"Van Dijk, Salah, and Alisson, but you have to add Alexander-Arnold. He's sensational. With the fit players and managers they have, they will probably become an unwanted team for Manchester City (the title fight), even though they (Manchester City) know they have beaten Liverpool before," Neville said.

Currently, Manchester City is on the third ladder with 40 points. They haven't played week 20 yet.

Even if they win, The Citizens can only shift Aston Villa in second place to overshadow Liverpool.