Liverpool are unbeaten in their past 20 Premier League games stretching back to last season
Ghana winger Christian Atsu was completely axed from the Newcastle squad and they were hammered 4-0 by Premier League league leaders Liverpool on Wednesday.
Atsu who has been struggling to impress this season was left out of the travelling squad perhaps for his recent struggles on the pitch but coach Rafael Benitez's decision did not go according to plan.
The Ghana star was not even on the bench Liverpool extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to six points by beating Newcastle - because Manchester City, who started the day as their nearest challengers, lost at Leicester City.
Goals by Dejan Lovren, Mohamed Salah from the penalty spot, Xherdan Shaqiri and substitute Fabinho, ensured Jurgen Klopp's will start 2019 at the top of the table.
Newcastle wasted a great chance to take the lead at 0-0 when Joselu failed to connect properly with Matt Ritchie's excellent cross and were punished when Lovren dispatched a half-volley into the roof of the net.
Salah's penalty doubled the lead after referee Graham Scott judged that Paul Dummett had fouled the Egypt forward, before Shaqiri tucked home the third from an assist by Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Liverpool completed the scoring through Fabinho's header and reach the halfway point of the season six points ahead of second-placed Tottenham, who were 5-0 winners against Bournemouth.
News of Manchester City's demise at Leicester - their second straight defeat - was greeted with a huge roar at Anfield.