Ekitike and Wirtz shine as Liverpool fight back to beat Newcastle | OneFootball

Liverpool recorded their first Premier League win of 2026 under the lights and produced a statement performance as they recovered from an early setback to dismantle Newcastle United 4-1 at Anfield.

Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz were the standout figures on a night that ended with an emotional moment for Ibrahima Konaté.

The visitors started brightly and put Liverpool under immediate pressure.

A swift counter-attack then caught the hosts off guard as Anthony Gordon finished clinically into the bottom corner, giving the away side a surprise lead and briefly quietening Anfield.

The hosts responded well and were level before the break thanks to a moment of quality from Wirtz. The German glided into the box before cleverly cutting the ball back for Ekitike, who applied the finishing touch from close range to restore parity and shift the momentum decisively.

The turnaround was completed early in the second half and again Ekitike was at the heart of it. Milos Kerkez threaded an incisive through ball into space and the French forward showed real composure, racing clear before beating Nick Pope with the outside of his boot.

Any lingering hope of a Newcastle comeback was extinguished midway through the half. Mohamed Salah’s cutback found Wirtz in space and the midfielder finished first time into the bottom corner, his sixth goal in ten games, underlining his growing influence in this Liverpool side.

With the result beyond doubt, Liverpool managed the closing stages professionally. Konaté then added a poignant late fourth, powering home from a corner to cap a commanding defensive display.

The centre-back was visibly emotional in celebration, having returned to the side following the death of his father. 

It was Liverpool’s first Premier League win this season after conceding the opening goal, and a performance that finally reflected their league potential and applied pressure to their competitive rivals for a Champions League spot.