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The brilliant Hugo Ekitike struck twice in quick succession to hit double figures in the Premier League and sink one of his summer suitors as Liverpool thumped Newcastle 4-1 at Anfield.

Anthony Gordon struck in the 36th minute to edge the visitors into the lead with a textbook finish beyond Alisson into the far corner. But Gordon and Newcastle's joy was short-lived thanks to Ekitike, who they pursued back in the summer transfer window.

He made no mistake from inside the penalty box when the dancing Florian Wirtz teed him up after jiving through a sea of black and white shirts minutes before half-time. And he produced a smart finish with the outside of his boot just two minutes later to complete the turnaround.

Wirtz then got the goal his performance deserved after a one-two with Mohamed Salah to put daylight between the two sides before Ibrahima Konate tapped home a late fourth. Here are Mirror Football's talking points from a big night at Anfield...

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1. Ekitike rubs salt in Magpies' wounds

It was always a safe bet that Liverpool would have the firepower to blow teams away after the Alexander Isak saga ended with the striker swapping white and black stripes for red. But with the Swedish star sidelined with a broken leg, Ekitike has stepped up as Liverpool's main man.

He was electric here and he has been for most of the season, in truth. Isak was always likely to be Liverpool's first choice No 9 after they parted with a British record £125million to sign him. But Ekitike was already purring when Isak was put in. And he's not really stopped since.

His quickfire brace turned this game on his head to but extra salt into Newcastle's wounds after they, too, pursued his signature. It was Liverpool who got him. And to the victor, the spoils.

2. Fabulous Florian

If Ekitike has been red-hot since his big summer move than Wirtz is now reaching boiling point. After a challenging start to life in the Premier League, the Germany star is looking every inch the talent Reds fans were told they were getting.

His exquisite footwork for Ekitike's opener was befitting of the primetime Saturday night telly slot, albeit on TNT Sports rather than a well-known BBC series. And his goal - his sixth in 11 games - was the cherry on top. There is no doubt that Wirtz has truly arrived now.

3. Howe about that

With Liverpool's defensive fragilities, it felt like Anthony Gordon's first open play goal in the Premier League for 33 matches could be the foundation for a memorable away victory.

But Eddie Howe's men couldn't find the reply they were after following Ekitike's double, with Wirtz then putting daylight between the two sides.

Newcastle would have gone level on points with Liverpool had they won here. They are now six points behind the Reds in their bid to qualify for Europe again with plenty of teams between them and the top six.

4. Steady Salah returns again

Liverpool's main man for so long, Mohamed Salah has been somewhat in the shadows this season. And it's been a subdued sort of return to Arne Slot's XI in the last two games.

After starring for Morocco at the Africa Cup of Nations, Salah kept his spot here after starting the 3-2 loss at Bournemouth and registered his third assist in as many Premier League games.

Does he look back to his explosive best? Not yet. But he is building back up and is playing with a smile on his face again. And that can only be good news for Salah, Liverpool and Slot.

5. Slot earns some respite

It's been a difficult few months for Slot. The last few months have been a challenge for the Dutchman after the euphoria of winning the Premier League in his maiden year.

His team needed a big week after the bitter sting of that last-gasp defeat at AFC Bournemouth - and they delivered.

The 3-0 win away at Marseille in midweek was the perfect tonic but it was important they followed it up in the league. They duly did so and that should ease some of the pressure on Slot, who could still end his second season in charge with another trophy.

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