Liverpool – Newcastle United: New Year, Same Salah (4-2)

In a heralded three way title race, contestants cannot afford to not capitalize on openings. While the champions had cruised to World Club Cup glory and the Gunners' grip on the summit had loosened, the Reds roared back with a vengeance to commence the new year. Their redemption arc continued, bruising and battering Newcastle with a familiar face as the main marksman.

Tactical analysis and match report by Emmanuel Adeyemi-Abere.

Points have not accompanied away days for Newcastle United as frequently as the outings at St. James' Park. However, the shrill of support in the stadium from the north-east cannot alone explain the current crisis. The visitors have lost four of their last five league fixtures, exited Europe, and bowed out of the quarter-final of the Carabao Cup in a mere four weeks. A stuffed schedule has exhausted their energy to critical levels. And the start of the new year was not any more forgiving.

Once upon a time, Liverpool learned to lean on their fullbacks as opponents opened their eyes to their pressing powers. Even if Jürgen Klopp never neglected his love of controlled chaos, ideas have forced others to adapt. The systems of the Spaniards craved control in the center; this interpretation of the inverted paradigm puts their

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