Newcastle United could not take advantage of Liverpool's 60-hour turnaround at St James' Park as the title challengers stayed on track. Liverpool had complained about the early kick off on Tyneside just two days after facing Villarreal in the Champions League semi-finals.
If anything it seemed to fire them up a little bit more than usual. But Newcastle came up against a team who are on the next level.
The Reds dominated possession and created 24 attempts at goal but it was Naby Keita's first half strike that proved enough to take three points. On another day substitute Chris Wood would have lifted the ball over Alisson for Newcastle's clearest chance of the day but failed to time his run properly and was ruled offside.
Although, on another day Liverpool would have taken another of their many chances on a day that will serve as both a learning curve and an indication of the standards needed to push on to be a top Premier League side.
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In a high stakes encounter for the visitors, the Reds won the toss and made United shoot towards the Gallowgate End and down the slop for the first 45 minutes. The tension for Liverpool was palpable at kick off time and an early slip from Sadio Mane on two minutes almost let Jonjo Shelvey in but his mis-hit shot bounced to safety.
Liverpool's first real sight of goal came two minutes later when Emil Krafth conceded a free-kick on the left. Andrew Robertson swung the ball in and it eventually dropped for Diogo Jota who blazed over.
On seven minutes Naby Keita struck a shot across the face of goal but it didn't trouble Martin Dubravka. With 10 minutes on the clock, James Milner's corner was swirled in at the Leazes End but Virgil van Dijk.
United threatened on 19 minutes when Fabian Schar's ball forward for Allan Saint-Maximin sparked panic in the Liverpool defence with Allison rushing out to clear. But Liverpool grabbed the lead amid some controversy.
Schar was taken down mid-way in the United defensive half before Jordan Henderson pass found Jota. The former Wolves man combined with Keita before he kept his cool and rounded Dubravka to put the Kop side ahead.
It was James Milner who appeared to catch Schar and the decision for VAR man was simple, was it a foul or not? Mike Dean decided it wasn't a foul so the goal stood.
On 37 minutes Henderson had a pop from a free-kick but curled it well wide of the target. A finger tip save from Dubravka then denied Jota just before half-time.
The two teams went in at the break with Liverpool ahead by the single goal but in full control.
United won a free-kick nine minutes into the second half with Shelvey curling the ball at goal but Milner's diving header cleared the danger.
Schar signalled to be substituted just before the hour mark with skipper Jamaal Lascelles thrown into the battle having been dropped after the win at Norwich. With 63 minutes gone Luis Diaz tried to tee himself up for an overhead kick but it was easy for Dubravka.
Howe made his second change when introducing Chris Wood on 67 minutes with the New Zealand international replacing Willock.
Liverpool flexed their muscle when bringing on Fabinho and Mo Salah for the last quarter of the game with Henderson and Mane coming off. Diaz cut the ball across to Salah on 72 minutes but he could only curl it straight at Dubravka.
The Slovakian made a fine stop low down to deny Jota moments later as Liverpool tried to seal the game. Newcastle's best chance of the afternoon arrived with 13 minutes to go.
Saint-Maximin slipped in Wood for a one on one with Alisson but the Brazil international made a standard block to deny him.
Liverpool resumed their flow when Jota went forward and forced Dubravka to palm the ball away on 79 minutes. Klopp threw Thiago on for the final 12 minutes with Milner going off.
Howe's last throw of the dice came when Jacob Murphy was afforded five minutes with the winger replacing Krafth.
Bruno tried his luck from outside the box in the closing stages but Alisson was equal to it and gathered comfortably low down. A late Fabinjo free-kick went over in stoppage time but it didn't matter for the visitors they'd done enough.
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