Hugo Ekitike turned the game on its head to stun former suitors Newcastle United as champions Liverpool recorded their first Premier League win of 2026.
2025/2026 Premier League
4-1
Match Report
Liverpool got back on track in the Premier League in brilliant fashion as they hammered Newcastle United 4-1 at Anfield.
The Reds went into Saturday's contest on the back of a five-game winless run in the top flight, which is their longest since 2021.
However, Arne Slot's team served up the ideal tonic as they claimed their first league win of 2026 in style, with Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz stealing the show.
After Harvey Barnes struck the woodwork, Anthony Gordon deservedly put Newcastle ahead in the 36th minute.
Yet Wirtz strutted his stuff to tee up Ekitike for a swift equaliser, with the latter doubling his tally two minutes later with an exquisite, outside-of-the-boot finish.
Wirtz turned from provider to scorer midway through the second half, sweeping home after latching onto Mohamed Salah's lay off.
6 - Liverpool's Hugo Ekitiké and Florian Wirtz have combined for six goals in all competitions this season, more than any other Premier League duo, assisting three goals each. Blossoming.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 31, 2026
Salah has now become the first player in Premier League history to record 10+ goals and 10+ assists against a single club in the competition.
Ekitike went off to a standing ovation late on, but there was still time for Ibrahima Konate, having returned to action following the death of his father earlier this month, to add gloss to a fantastic night for the Reds when he bundled in after Nick Pope's error.
Data Debrief: Double trouble
Ekitike and Wirtz have now combined for six goals in the Premier League this term, more than any other duo.
While Wirtz created two chances, ranking joint-third for Liverpool on the night, Ekitike led the game for shots, with six, three more than anybody else.
Indeed, Ekitike was responsible for 1.06 of Liverpool's 1.95 expected goals, which dwarfed Newcastle's 0.33 xG.
Ekitike's brace took him to 10 Premier League goals this season; at 23 years and 225 days, he is the youngest player for Liverpool to reach double figures in a league season since Michael Owen in 2000-01 (21y 138d).
Since providing his first goal involvement in the top flight for the Reds on December 20, Wirtz has been involved in more goals than any other Premier League player in all competitions (nine – six goals, three assists).
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
3' Joe Willock stays down as his foot seemed to be caught
10' Mac Allister goes done after a clash with Anthony Gordon off the ball
12' Gordon flies in and takes out Alisson and he sees yellow
18' Ekitike goes for goal with his left foot but it's a comfortable save for Pope
20' Match Event for Liverpool vs Newcastle
26' CLOSE! Barnes' free-kick hits the woodwork!
32' Ekitike goes for a dink from a tight angle but Pope is able to paw it away
36' GOAL! Gordon opens the scoring through a counter! Liverpool 0-1 Newcastle
39' Salah has a shot from tight angle which is saved by Pope
41' GOAL! Wirtz assists Ekitiké to equalize! Liverpool 1-1 Newcastle
43' GOAL! Ekitike has his second to turn the game around! Liverpool 2-1 Newcastle
49' Salah teeing up Szoboszlai but his shot is comfortably saved by Nick Pope
50' Match Event for Liverpool vs Newcastle
59' Great save from Alisson to keep away Barnes' shot
67' GOAL! Wirtz doubles the lead for hosts! Liverpool 3-1 Newcastle
69' Salah gets into the box but then stabs his left-foot shot wide
77' Gordon flashes the shot wide from 20 yard
84' Salah and Ekitike are replaced by Jones and Chiesa
88' Match Event for Liverpool vs Newcastle
Line-ups
Liverpool XI: Alisson, Salah, Van Dijk, Konate, Gakpo, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Hugo Ekitiké, Milos Kerkez, Wirtz
Subs: Endo, Robertson, Chiesa, Curtis Jones, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Calvin Ramsay, Trey Nyoni, Amara Nallo, Rio Ngumoha
Newcastle XI: Trippier, Burn, Pope, Barnes, Willock, Tonali, Gordon, Malick Thiaw, Anthony Elanga, Jacob Ramsey, Lewis Hall
Subs: Yoane Wissa, J.Murphy, Ramsdale, Sven Botman, Nick Woltemade, William Osula, Alex Murphy, Leo Shahar, Lewis Miley