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PA Sport 6y

Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane score as Liverpool defeat Newcastle

Mohamed Salah scored for the seventh successive match to continue a remarkable scoring spree that is the best in Europe as Liverpool comfortably beat Newcastle United 2-0.

The Egypt international's 32nd goal of the campaign -- the same number Newcastle have managed in all competitions this season -- was the 26th competitive club match he has scored in, eclipsing the likes of Paris Saint-Germain's Edinson Cavani (24) and Barcelona's Lionel Messi (20) in the big five leagues.

Sadio Mane added Liverpool's second -- his fifth goal in his last three matches -- after a series of quick exchanges that culminated in Roberto Firmino's pass.

Liverpool moved back into second place, with Manchester United having the chance to regain it against Crystal Palace on Monday, after handing Rafael Benitez his first defeat in his six games as manager against the team he guided to Champions League glory in 2005.

It was a bitterly cold return for Benitez, whose attempts at damage limitation against the free-scoring Liverpool lasted until five minutes before the break.

Salah was denied three times prior to his goal. His first shot was blocked by Paul Dummett's hands in front of his body, then he rifled an effort into the side-netting and he delayed too long in switching the ball to his right foot after being teed up by Firmino.

Newcastle's luck could not hold, however, and when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain burst onto a loose ball centre-back Jamaal Lascelles was drawn to the midfielder, affording Oxlade-Chamberlain plenty of space to slip a pass to Salah -- who promptly slotted through Martin Dubravka's legs.

The last Liverpool player to score in seven successive matches was Daniel Sturridge in February 2014. Salah also equalled Sturridge's club record, shared with Robbie Fowler, of scoring in 19 different Premier League fixtures.

And there was no let-up from the forward, who, late in the second half, had one shout for a penalty turned down for a foul by Lascelles. The defender was so tormented by Salah all game he could easily have been sent off in added time for a last-ditch challenge that referee Graham Scott deemed clean, much to Jurgen Klopp's disgust.

The only moment of alarm for Liverpool came in first-half injury time when Loris Karius brilliantly tipped over Mohamed Diame's curling effort, but normal service was resumed after the break as Salah had a second handball shout turned down when the ball struck Lascelles.

It mattered little when an incisive move cut through the visitors and was finished with aplomb by Mane -- a fitting way to bring up Anfield's 300th Premier League victory.

The goal was also the 200th in Klopp's 97th league game in charge, and since he was appointed in October 2015, only Manchester City (214) have scored more.

They have no chance of catching Pep Guardiola's side this season but finishing runners-up to a team playing arguably the best football in Europe remains well within their grasp.

For Newcastle, with just one win in their last seven matches, survival is still the aim as they remain just two points above the relegation zone.

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