A one-sided six-goal thriller played out at Anfield on Monday night as Liverpool set a new expected goals (xG) record en route to victory over Newcastle United.
At half-time of the match at Anfield, Mohamed Salah (£13.3m) was sat on a Gameweek 20 score of -1.
A missed first-half penalty had threatened to seriously sour his farewell party before his imminent departure for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Fast-forward 45 minutes and Salah had posted his joint-biggest FPL score of the season, having played a part in three of Liverpool’s four goals.
Salah had tapped home the Reds’ opener and brilliantly teed up Cody Gakpo (£7.2m) before exorcising some demons with a converted 86th-minute spot-kick, finishing with a 16-point haul.
The Egyptian winger now links up with his country for the delayed AFCON 2023 in Cote d’Ivoire, where he could remain for up to six weeks – the equivalent of four Gameweeks in FPL.
Newcastle’s recent wobbly defensive performances had made this fixture look more favourable from Liverpool’s perspective but not many of us would have anticipated the extent of the bombardment that followed.
The hosts’ total of 34 shots was their highest in a league match in over six years.
Newcastle, meanwhile, had the sixth-best defence for expected goals conceded (xGC) before kick-off. After 90 minutes at Anfield, they now have the sixth-worst record.
Nine big chances were created by Jurgen Klopp’s side as they racked up a record-breaking 7.27 xG.
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