Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz end Liverpool’s winless league run

Ekitike’s contribution dragged Liverpool out of a ragged opening passage in which they had fallen behind once again and Florian Wirtz’s latest goal brought the sort of breathing space the head coach Arne Slot could cherish given the scrutiny he has been under.

There would also be the heartwarming sight of Ibrahima Konaté, who asked to cut short compassionate leave after the death of his father, scoring a fourth in added time which moved him to tears.

That the night ended with a cry of “Champions, Champions, Champions” spoke volumes about the sort of result that was long overdue.

Of course, The Kop should sing it while they can. Soon enough it will be redundant but there were elements of this display, once Liverpool had got to grips with Newcastle and, in particular, the rapier bursts of the goalscorer Anthony Gordon, that will underpin the push for a top four finish if they are repeated.

They came from behind to win a league game for the first time since the day they clinched the title last April when dismantling Tottenham Hotspur 5-1. “If” remains the key word.

Consistency has eluded them all season but with Manchester City to arrive at Anfield next Sunday the mood should be upbeat. Following the 6-0 win over Qarabag, ten goals in two games reflects the improvement in “both boxes” that Slot had demanded after defeat to Bournemouth.

The importance of this outcome cannot be underestimated at a time where almost everyone is picking holes.

Just under 90 minutes before kick-off, Ekitike had emerged on the pitch, sporting a red jacket and jeans. On closer inspection, the rest of his team-mates had also shunned their normal tracksuits in favour of a mix of Tommy Hilfiger as they adhered to the demands of a recent sponsorship deal with the US brand.

The outfits did not cause the same stir as the white Armani suits before the 1996 FA Cup final loss, but Liverpool need to stand out for their football, not style choices. They did, after a fashion.

Andy Cole and Rob Lee were on target when Newcastle last won a league game here and over the course of the next 32 years they have experienced little more than unrelenting misery.

Shorn of Bruno Guimarães and Joelinton (both unlikely to be back for Wednesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final, second-leg against Manchester City), they set about trying to banish that awful statistic with gusto, doing everything Liverpool do not like and struggle against.

There were long balls, a barrage of set pieces, runs in behind and a physical approach which left Alisson in the back of the net after an early corner and then floored by a Gordon challenge that earned the attacker an early booking.

Gordon had already pushed Alexis Mac Allister in the chest, though the Argentinian made the most of it, and seemed intent on playing on the edge despite his sending-off in the corresponding fixture in August. He would soon leave his mark in more conventional ways.

Harvey Barnes had thudded a free kick against the frame of the goal, Lewis Hall dissected the six-yard box with a brilliant cross that somehow eluded his team-mates but the sense grew that a goal was coming for the visitors.

Joe Willock broke down the left and, in trying to stifle Barnes’s intent, Mac Allister succeeded only in touching the ball into the path of Gordon. A touch then a shot through the legs of Milos Kerkez sent the ball into the corner. Anfield groaned and Virgil van Dijk shouted: “Too open, too open.”

Howe would lament that in the period in which his players were so dominant, his side did not carve out more clearcut chances. “We got the goal and quietened the crowd and got so much right, but we didn’t defend well enough,” he said. “How we have conceded four is a mystery.”

That felt a tad churlish given Ekitike’s ability. Liverpool have, in general, been slow starters this term. Ekitike, in contrast, hit the ground running and has not stopped. There should be no surprise that Wirtz provided the assist for the equaliser given their blossoming understanding. They have combined for six goals, more than any other Premier League duo.

Wirtz danced past what looked a black and white road block, but Jacob Ramsey, Kieran Trippier and Anthony Elanga were powerless to halt him. A cut back allowed Ekitike to finish at the near post.

The din had barely subsided when Kerkez spotted Ekitike in acres of space on the left and invited him to duel with Malick Thiaw. The forward looked at his passing options before squeezing the accelerator, zooming beyond his rival and firing past Nick Pope.

“Everyone can tell how special he is, how fast he is. That was probably seen the best in the second goal,” Slot said. “He took a one v one on and went on the outside, which is very difficult in modern football. His biggest improvement is his work rate off the ball and that is so helpful and necessary for any team let alone a team that wants to press for 95 minutes.”

One look at the history of this fixture — the 4-3s, Kevin Keegan hiding his disappointment behind an advertising hoarding and late goals — suggested there would be life left in the contest.

Ekitike spurned a hat-trick chance after unnerving Dan Burn and Alisson repelled Barnes’ vicious left-foot strike before the helter-skelter was put to bed. Thiaw was loose in possession, Liverpool countered and Wirtz scored his sixth goal in ten appearances after swapping passes with Mohamed Salah.

There was time for Konaté, immense throughout, to pounce on Pope’s mistake and prod in. His emotions came pouring out and the defender later said: “It was a very difficult moment for me and my family in the last two weeks.

“I saw the team and we had some injured players. The manager said I could take my time and I didn’t need to rush back but with this situation it was important for me to come back and help the team.”

For Liverpool, and Slot, respite was everything.

Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Alisson — D Szoboszlai, I Konaté, V Van Dijk, M Kerkez — R Gravenberch, A Mac Allister — M Salah (F Chiesa 84min), F Wirtz (W Endo 87), C Gakpo — H Ekitike (C Jones 84) Booked Mac Allister.

Newcastle United (4-3-3): N Pope — K Trippier (W Osula 84), M Thiaw, D Burn, L Hall (A Murphy 89) — J Willock (N Woltemade 73), S Tonali, J Ramsey — A Elanga (J Murphy 73), A Gordon, H Barnes (Y Wissa 72) Booked Gordon, Ramsey, Burn.

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