Leicester City were unable to simplify Newcastle United's road to the Champions League after capitulating against Liverpool tonight.
The resounding away win for Jurgen Klopp's side made it seven successive victories for Liverpool and while their triumph puts them just one point behind Manchester United and Newcastle, the Magpies and Red Devils still have what could to be a crucial game in hand over the men from Anfield.
United know that a win over Brighton & Hove Albion would re-establish the four point gap between Newcastle and Liverpool. Eddie Howe's team can still hit 75 points if they win all their games and the Reds can only collect 71 in total if they beat Aston Villa and Southampton.
READ MORE: Magic tally Newcastle need to clinch Champions League spot and bookies odds
Were Newcastle to beat Brighton and then doomed Leicester next Monday, they will be in the Champions League next season. And if the Magpies beat Brighton and Liverpool lost to Aston Villa on Saturday, it would be a done deal for Newcastle with neither the Reds or the South Coast club able to catch them in that scenario.
The Reds got themselves ahead when Wout Faes misjudged a long ball before Jordan Henderson picked out Mo Salah, who crossed for Curtis Jones on 33 minutes to apply the finish. Jones grabbed his second three minutes later when Salah played him in again before he found the net once more.
Trent Alexander-Arnold made the lead even more comfortable after the break with a free-kick to put Liverpool 3-0 up.
Premier League fixtures - top four race
Thursday, May 18
- Newcastle vs Brighton (7.30pm)
Saturday, May 20
- Liverpool vs Aston Villa (3pm)
- Bournemouth vs Manchester United (3pm)
Sunday, May 21
- Brighton vs Southampton (2pm)
Monday, May 22
- Newcastle vs Leicester (8pm)
Wednesday, May 24
- Brighton vs Manchester City (8pm)
Thursday, May 25
- Manchester United vs Chelsea (8pm)
Sunday, May 28 (all 4.30pm)
- Chelsea vs Newcastle
- Southampton vs Liverpool
- Manchester United vs Fulham
- Aston Villa vs Brighton
