TOP OF THE KLOPPS

WIND and rain hammered Anfield but the Liverpool storm and Mo Salah finally broke Newcastle's defences.

- CHRIS MCKENNA

Chance after chance was wasted but the Reds got there in the end.

Curtis Jones and Cody Gakpo got the second and third to condemn Eddie Howe's side, who had gone into the break level at 0-0, to a third successive Premier League defeat.

Salah got the opener - a simple tap-in - after missing an earlier penalty before Alexander Isak levelled the game from a rare Toon attack.

And the Egyptian, who now flies to the Africa Cup of Nations, atoned for his earlier spot-kick by scoring a late peanlty to wrap up the victory.

It ended any hope of a Newcastle fightback after Sven Botman's header from a corner had made it 3-2.

Salah was pivotal in the leadup to Diogo Jota teeing up Jones for Liverpool's second and put in a superb cross with the outside of his boot to set up Gakpo.

Liverpool could now be without him for up to eight games in all competitions if Egypt go all the way in Africa.