Merseyside giants Liverpool were given a stern test of their Premier League title challenge by struggling Newcastle United and they passed the test to close the gap on pacesetters and holders Manchester City. The Citizens had earlier moved four points clear of Liverpool at the Premier League summit thanks to the annihilation of Leeds United at home on Tuesday night.

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Kevin De Bruyne (two goals), Nathan Ake, Phil Foden, John Stones, Jack Grealish and RiyadMahrez were all on target for Manchester City on the way to a 7-0 win over the Whites as they avenged the 2-1 home defeat suffered to them while they were going for the league title last season. The result set a new record for Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa who had not suffered 7-0 before in the course of his managerial career.

With Manchester City four points clear, Liverpool needed to beat Newcastle United at home to take the deficit back to one point. The Reds didn’t have things their way after Liverpool surprisingly conceded the first goal of the game inside ten minutes thanks to one of their former player, JonjoShelvey who spent three years at Anfield earlier in his career.

Liverpool huffed and puffed as they didn’t pose too much threat to the Newcastle United rearguard until the controversial goal from Portugal international Diogo Jota around the midway point of the first half. He scored from close range after his  header was saved by Martin Dubravka in the Newcastle United goal. Newcastle United players were furious that midfielder Isaac Hayden was on the floor with a head injury and the game should have been stopped for him to receive treatment. Hayden played Jota onside while he was on the floor as the Portuguese scored to restore parity for his team. Liverpool eventually sealed a 3-1 win through goals from Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold have either side of the interval.