5 highest Premier League xG after Liverpool break record against Newcastle

With Arsenal succumbing at Fulham on New Year’s Eve, Liverpool were presented with a huge opportunity to open up a three-point lead at the Premier League summit.

Newcastle’s visits to Anfield are rarely dull, and their New Year’s Day clash was no different.

Jurgen Klopp’s side were utterly dominant against a Magpies outfit that had won just one of their previous seven fixtures heading into their 2024 opener.

Eddie Howe’s side were once revered for their stern backline which aided their ascent to Champions League football last season. However, at Anfield on Monday night, Newcastle were reliant on an excellent Martin Dubravka display (and some woeful finishing from the hosts) to avoid an even greater humiliation.

Despite Liverpool’s statistical mauling, Monday’s fixture hung in the balance for the large majority of it. After Mohamed Salah had a first-half penalty saved by Dubravka, Darwin Nunez’s typical profligacy – the Uruguayan spurned chances worth 1.43 xG in the opening 45 minutes – meant the contest entered half-time all-square.

A bonkers second half in which all six goals were scored then ensued. While Liverpool continued to batter Dubravka’s goal, Newcastle found ways of remaining in the contest despite falling 1-0 and 3-1 behind. Alexander Isak and Sven Botman both found the net to unnerve the Merseyside cauldron, but the Magpies’ unlikely success in Liverpool’s third seemed to consistently spark the Reds into life.

Once Anthony Taylor blew a halt to proceedings and Liverpool extended their lead at the summit, Klopp’s men had walked away with an uncomfortably tight 4-2 victory. According to Opta Joe, their 34-shot haul was worth a record-breaking 7.27 xG – 5.75 of which was generated from open play. The Reds smashed their previous record which they held with Manchester City of 5.87, registered in their more efficient 6-0 thrashing of Leeds during the 2021/22 season.

Newcastle, while scoring twice, only mustered 0.59 xG.

Liverpool were as rampant as they were wasteful on New Year’s Day, and Salah’s impending absence will doubtlessly concern Klopp given the Egyptian’s ruthless efficiency which is uncharacteristic of his other forwards. Salah eventually scored from the spot on Monday night after netting Liverpool’s first,…