It's too easy as Newcastle gift Liverpool victory

The Magpies have not won at Anfield since April 1994. The 22 matches since then had contained 18 draws and four losses.

And Newcastle's current form hardly allowed anyone to dream yesterday.

But, even still, having a difficult afternoon is one thing - gifting this incredibly talented Liverpool side two gilt-edged opportunities is something else altogether.

And that's what happened as errors from Jamaal Lascelles and Paul Dummett did half of Liverpool's work for them.

Lascelles weak header gifted Dejan Lovren the first goal before the left-back’s soft challenge on Mo Salah after the break did just as much damage.

And the less said about the last 15 minutes the better.

There were six changes from the goalless, soulless Fulham result from just before Christmas, two in defence, two in midfield and a further two up front.

Such widespread personnel switch-outs can hardly help this side play flowing football - and with Salomon Rondon one of those asked to sit out, fears were high that Benitez's side would follow the same drab script at Anfield as they did at home to the Cottagers.

The surprise then was that, early on at least, Newcastle were more than a match for the home side going forward.

But in a bitter twist for Benitez, it was the men at the back who truly let him down on his old patch.

Newcastle should have taken the lead after eight minutes when Matt Ritchie's deep, telling cross was perfect for Joselu but he could not steer his header home.

It did not take long for Liverpool to also find their rhythm though as just 60 seconds later, Xherdan Shaqiri then somehow managed to put his effort wide from less than six yards out following Sadio Mane's cross.

As Newcastle counted their blessings following Shaqiri's miss, a ball deep into the box was badly dealt with by Lascelles who dozily nodded back down into the path of Liverpool defender Lovren.

The Croatian then hit the ball as sweetly as he ever has on the half-volley as his effort from the edge of the area beat Martin Dubravka with ease.

The effort was still on the rise as it hit the roof of the net in front of the Kop.

It was a stunning effort - but one he should never have been gifted it the first place.

All of a sudden, Liverpool were rampant as the five men Benitez had at the back were still incapable of quelling the home side's attacking ambitions.

But, credit where it is due, as half-time approached and the memories of the opening goal began to fade, Newcastle got more of a foothold in the match.

They were never that truly threatening or ruthless - and lacked a final killer pass - but no visiting fan in the Anfield Road End could say they were being shortchanged on effort or commitment.

Just before the break, Dubravka produced a wonderful save from a curling and dipping Shaqiri free-kick that ensured Newcastle were only 1-0 down at the break.

Yet, just as in the first half, Newcastle committed defensive suicide straight after the re-start to gift Liverpool another goal.

Salah shimmied inside the box and Dummett then gave the Egyptian's arm enough of a tug to invite referee Graham Scott to point to the spot.

Was it a soft penalty? Yes, undoubtedly. Was it the wrong decision by Scott? Again, probably.

But even giving Salah the opportunity to buy a penalty at Anfield shows a lack of streetwise skills from Dummett and Salah got up from his rather theatrical dive and slotted home past Dubravka.

All of a sudden, rather than having a puncher's chance of a result, Newcastle looked buried.

Liverpool were at Newcastle's throats following the second goal but Benitez's men showed impressive solidarity to stop this becoming a rout.

Or so it seemed.

Just as Newcastle looked to be escaping Merseyside with their pride only partially battered, Trent Alexander Arnold slipped a ball into the area and Shaqiri was unmarked in the area and could not miss before Fabinho was gifted acres of space in the area from a corner as he made it four.

All of a sudden the end could not come quick enough.