Mohamed Salah’s second-half brace made up for a missed penalty as Liverpool kicked off the new year three points clear atop the Premier League standings with a 4-2 victory over Newcastle United at a rain-drenched Anfield on Monday.

Juergen Klopp’s team, who began the day level with Aston Villa on points, now have 45 from 20 games. Villa have 42 points while Manchester City, who have played one fewer game, are third on 40. Newcastle are ninth on 29.

The 31-year-old Salah, who has 150 Premier League goals for Liverpool, changed his boots at halftime and it worked like a charm. His two goals moved him even with City’s Erling Haaland as joint top scorers with 14 goals. He is the joint top on assists, level with Villa’s Ollie Watkins on eight.

Alexander Isak scored against the run of play with Newcastle’s second shot of the game in the 54th minute when he ran onto a through ball from Anthony Gordon and knocked it past keeper Alisson into the far corner.

However, Curtis Jones put the home side back in front in the 74th minute with a tap-in after a pass across goal from Diogo Jota, and Cody Gakpo scored four minutes later.

Sven Botman pulled one back for Newcastle in the 81st before Salah, who was playing his last game before departing for the African Cup of Nations, struck from the penalty spot after Jota had been fouled to seal the win in the 86th.

Nobody should be surprised that Salah was able to recover from missing a penalty to score twice, Klopp said.

“We should not be really surprised that Mo can change a game, can improve in the game, because he did it hundreds of times,” Klopp told reporters.

“But it’s just a really good example.

“The more goals you have, the more you’re used to missing chances and the more you just understand what you have to do keep going and if necessary keep improving, using the situations better, and that’s what Mo did.”

“It’s not superstitious because I play with many boots. But when I feel it’s going to play with my head, okay, out, change the boots,”Salah said.

“It’s a great result for us. The game was very intense and we managed to pick up three points and now we are top of the table. We need to stay calm and win every game,” he added.

“The players spoke in the dressing room (at halftime). ‘We have to stay calm’. I missed the pen. I didn’t want to leave for the national team with that performance.”

Liverpool thoroughly dominated against Newcastle on a wild and rain-drenched evening at Anfield, with 35 shots to the visitors’ five, and 15 shots on target.

“I didn’t have to look at the stats, because I saw it. It was really special,” Klopp said. “We didn’t stop, that’s the most important thing.”

A couple of weeks after calling out the Anfield crowd for two uncharacteristically quiet games, the German had nothing but praise for the fans who braved the blustery conditions on Monday.

“Tonight (Monday) the atmosphere was absolutely exceptional in how we all took together, these missed chances,” Klopp said. “It was not like ‘Oh my god, what are they doing?’ and I would understand that in moments, but everybody was just really on fire and we go again, we go again, we go again and we did.

“So, super game from start to finish, super high intensity.”
The ring story

There was a moment of panic for the coach when he lost his wedding ring on the pitch after fulltime while clapping along with the fans. He spent several moments retracing his steps before spotting the ring and then kissing it with a grin for a television camera.

“That would have been really awful,” said a relieved Klopp. “I lost it in the sea once and needed a professional diver. I had a massive shock but it’s back.”

The incident happened in the moments after Liverpool’s win.

Klopp had congratulated his players and was heading toward the fans while applauding, before he realized he no longer had his wedding ring on.

He scoured the grass near where he was standing, even asking a steward if he wouldn’t mind helping in the search.