Jurgen Klopp’s men made it two wins in a week as they impressively eased past fourth placed Newcastle at St James’ Park.
It is the first time they have recorded back-to-back wins since the 30th December after beating Aston Villa and Leicester City over the festive period.
The timely returns of Virgil van Dijk, Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino seems to have provided the vital psychological boost needed to power the team to victory.
Coupled with the Merseyside derby triumph on Monday, two clean sheets in two games was the perfect tonic for Klopp after a difficult run of form.
Newcastle, meanwhile, appear to have stuttered in their bid to cement their top four Champions League aspirations.
Now Tottenham, and maybe even Liverpool, if they can claw back a further six points, will sense their nerves and an opportunity to strike.
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First-half
The hosts almost took the lead, as Allan Saint-Maximin charged at the Reds defence, slipping in Miguel Almirón, but the Paraguayan could only fire straight at Alisson.
But it was in fact the visiting side that opened the scoring after just 10 minutes played, as Trent Alexander-Arnold whipped a delicious ball forward to Darwin Núñez, who slammed in with a breath-taking finish.
There were Newcastle calls for handball against the Uruguayan, whilst he was controlling the ball, but this was waved away and the goal stood.
A big goal for Núñez’s confidence after a slow start to his Anfield career.
Liverpool then stunned the home crowd to make it 2-0 after just 17 minutes, as Cody Gakpo swept in a fine finish to give Klopp’s men the perfect two-goal cushion.
The Dutchman started the move, passing to midfielder Fabinho, before Mohamed Salah sent a world class lobbed pass through to Gakpo, who finished in style past goalkeeper Nick Pope.
Gakpo, having scored his first Reds goal against Everton in the Merseyside derby earlier in the week, appears to have finally caught fire.
With confidence coursing through the team, Klopp’s team were finally beginning to show the kind of play that made them one of Europe’s most dominant sides last season.
And the match’s next big incident saw Pope dismissed in the 22nd minute, as Alisson booted the ball up field to create a quick counter attack.
As Salah was attempting to race onto the loose ball, Pope came rushing out his goal and handled well outside of his area, giving referee Anthony Taylor little choice but to red card the Newcastle stopper, for preventing a potential goalscoring opportunity.
A foolish moment that has cost Pope the opportunity to take his place in the Magpies goal for next week’s Carabao Cup Final against Manchester United.
It is Newcastle’s first major final since the 1999 FA Cup showpiece, also against the very same opponents.
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Ironically, with Martin Dúbravka cup-tied having represented United, whilst on loan, in an earlier round, third-choice keeper, Lorius Karius, formerly of Liverpool, will be handed the gloves.
Having cost the Reds, on numerous occasions, including the 2018 Champions League final, Geordie fans are right to be concerned, with such a big match at stake.
Eddie Howe’s men will attempt to end a 54-year trophy drought.
And if they wanted a flawless build-up to their biggest match in nearly a quarter of a century, this one quickly slipped away from them, as they went into half-time 2-0 down, and facing a near uphill task to get anything out of it.
Second-half
The talented Saint-Maximin nearly reduced the deficit as he twisted and turned in the Liverpool penalty area, past Andy Robertson, and holding off van Dijk, as he fired a good effort at goal, only for Alisson to thwart him and palm over.
It was very nearly 2-1, as England full-back Kieran Trippier’s corner was headed against the bar by Dan Burn, and hoofed clear by Fabinho, as the former Premier League champions breathed a huge sigh of relief.
A trademark of Liverpool’s play is their ability to hit their opponents on the counter-attack.
And they almost had a third, as Robertson raced away, teeing up Núñez, who cut inside, but it was kept out by a fine save from Dúbravka.
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Jota could also have made the game safe, but he headed Robertson’s cross wide, with the goal at his mercy.
In the final moments, Newcastle, could have nabbed a consolation as new signing from Liverpool’s rivals Everton, Anthony Gordon ran at the Reds defence, before squaring to Callum Wilson but the England striker wastefully shot straight at Alisson, and should have done so much better.
It symbolised their afternoon on Tyneside, as Liverpool made a huge statement with this victory over their rivals in the race for the top four and qualification for the Champions League.
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Klopp – ‘I loved the goals’
Having become the first team to win at St James’ this season, boss Klopp seemed delighted with the result.
“I loved the goals, the way we moved the ball, not offside, patient enough,” he said.
“The vision from the passes. Trent, top pass, super control from Darwin – a super goal.
“Then the second goal, really good link-up play and then the chip from Mo for Cody… top goals, honestly.”
The Reds manager was also full of praise for his beaten opponents.
“We didn’t score a third and it kept the game exciting.
“Newcastle, all credit to them, they put in a proper shift, really wanted to go for it, and they fought really hard,” said the German.
“That’s why it was exciting until the end, but we got the three points and we are very happy about that.”
Looking ahead
Up next for Liverpool on Tuesday, is the visit to Anfield of defending European champions Real Madrid.
Which, as 14-time winners of the competition, will be no easy task.
Then on Saturday, they face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, as they aim to win a third league game on the bounce.
But having two wins and two clean sheets, both 2-0 victories under their belts, Klopp and his men will be hopeful of picking up further wins as they seek to build on this momentum.
