Media reaction: 'Relentless Reds go from strength to strength'

Dejan Lovren blasted an unstoppable opener in the first half and Mohamed Salah then added his 15th strike of the season from the penalty spot.

And, in the closing stages, Xherdan Shaqiri and Fabinho wrapped up another professional victory for the Reds with a goal apiece.

Here is what the media made of the match...

James Pearce, Liverpool Echo

The roar swept like wildfire around Anfield. The festive spirit was already in plentiful supply with Liverpool's eighth successive Premier League triumph long since secure. Newcastle United had been mercilessly put to the sword. But news of Leicester City's winner against Manchester City truly lit the touch paper. Talk about an unexpected late Christmas gift. Euphoria tumbled down from the stands as the decibel levels were cranked up further. It was a snapshot of what this title race truly means to Kopites. This was raw emotion. The sense of longing at Anfield is almost palpable. They have waited nearly three decades for Liverpool to return to the pinnacle of English football. There have been too many false dawns, too many broken dreams along the way for anyone to get carried away at this stage. Tellingly, it's 'Liverpool top of the league' rather than 'We're going to win the league' which is being belted out with increasing levels of gusto. Klopp's ruthless, relentless Red Machine simply goes from strength to strength. They have reached the halfway stage with 51 points – the highest total in the club's 126-year history. Put into context, Liverpool only collected 52 points in the entire 2011-12 season. Remarkably, with 16 wins and three draws, they have conceded just seven goals in 19 matches. Their tally of a dozen clean sheets has already equalled the number they kept in the 1989-90 campaign – the last time the championship was delivered to Anfield. Captain Jordan Henderson epitomised his team's show of total commitment as he covered every blade of grass and drove Liverpool forward. In the closing stages Anfield paid homage to Benitez. That adulation is richly deserved. He gave Kopites their greatest night this century in Istanbul. If the second half of this season matches the first half Klopp will join him in Anfield's pantheon of legends.

David Lynch, Evening Standard

There are many people who believe the identity of the Premier League leaders on Christmas Day provides zero insight into the likely winners of the title. Liverpool fans know that better than most: their team is the only one to have failed to convert a festive lead into victory in May in the last 10 seasons – doing so twice. But even the most aloof supporters will struggle to avoid acknowledging the significance of a six-point Boxing Day advantage in 2018-19, one earned by virtue of having played every side in the league once. In shutting Newcastle out on Boxing Day, Liverpool took their league clean sheet tally for the season to an impressive 12. Incredibly, that is as many as the Reds kept in a 42-game campaign the last time they claimed the title in 1989-90. Reigning champions Manchester City may outstrip Klopp's men in terms of firepower, but there is now no question over which team possesses the best defensive unit. And it could be this fact that proves decisive in the title race. He isn't in the team to score goals, of course, but Fabinho deserved his first Liverpool strike to cap a period of significant personal growth. After a slow start, the Brazilian's importance to Klopp's team is growing on a weekly basis, as evidenced by his recent performances against Wolves and Manchester United.

Dominic King, Daily Mail

There are 19 games to go but, for once, those words are being bellowed with conviction. A remarkable five days over Christmas has seen Liverpool stretch six points clear at the top of the table to rip the tag of title favourites away from Manchester City. Liverpool were never anything other than dominant against Newcastle United. The final score of 4-0 could have been six and made the test appear as straightforward as many expected it to be. It was the result in Leicester, however, that carried the most significance in the eyes of Liverpudlians. To see Benitez's line-up, with Newcastle's main threat Salomon Rondon on the bench, it was immediately clear that the narrative of this latest meeting was only going to flow in one direction, with the visitors' intent on making this an afternoon of frustration. Having been viewed as the plucky challengers, who nobody really believed would be able to lay a glove on City, Liverpool are now in the best position after a Christmas period that has exceeded Klopp's expectations. On this evidence, they could be in this position for some time. Destiny is firmly in their hands.

Neil Johnston, BBC

News of Manchester City's demise at Leicester – their second straight defeat – was greeted with a huge roar at Anfield. A week ago there was just one point between Liverpool and Pep Guardiola's reigning champions, yet Klopp's side will go into their final game of 2018 on Saturday against Arsenal with Tottenham their nearest challengers. The Reds certainly look the part. They have reached the halfway point unbeaten – just like City did on the way to the title last season. The Reds secured a 12th top-flight clean sheet without too many scares, although Joselu's headed miss when the game was goalless was a let-off. Shortly afterwards Lovren found the roof of the net with a sublime finish, before Salah doubled the lead from the penalty spot and Shaqiri pounced for his fourth goal in as many games. It was at this point news filtered through from the King Power Stadium that Manchester City were losing 2-1 – and with Liverpool fans in party mood, substitute Fabinho headed the fourth to wrap up a 16th win in 19 league games. In addition, this was Klopp's 100th win as Liverpool manager in his 181st match.

Simon Hughes, Independent

Liverpool did not operate with the sort of precision they can find but they did not need to. Newcastle's five-man defence could not handle the movement and perseverance of Mohamed Salah, the outstanding player on the pitch. It became 2-0 when Paul Dummett hauled the Egyptian down and with that, Anfield witnessed a home penalty for the first time in 424 days which is an astounding fact when you consider the pace and trickery of Liverpool's forward line. In his current form, Salah was not going to miss the subsequent opportunity, just as Shaqiri did not miss from Trent-Alexander Arnold's cross and Fabinho did not miss from Salah's late corner. Liverpool thunder on. City falter. Tottenham creep. The hunt continues.

This story has been reproduced from the media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.