Newcastle United 1-3 Liverpool: 5 Talking Points as Reds cruise to club-record points tally | Premier League 2019-20

#3 Newcastle just didn't have enough ammunition

Steve Bruce has had an excellent first season in charge of Newcastle

Jonjo Shelvey's quick thinking and Dwight Gayle's quickness of feet ensured that Newcastle got off to the dream start, with a goal within the first minute. That meant that the Magpies could sit back in their shape and use the pace of Gayle, Miguel Almiron, and Allan Saint-Maximin on the counter-attack.

But once the early goal jolted Liverpool, they were alert to the threat of the counter-attack, and with the pace of Joe Gomez, Van Dijk, and Robertson at the back, they could deal with it.

But once Van Dijk equalised, and Origi put the Reds ahead, Newcastle had to come out and play some attacking football if they were to get a result. They brought on Joelinton and Andy Carroll as their attacking subs, and that was an indication of the outstanding job that Steve Bruce has done on Tyneside, with his two main striking options just not being savvy enough in front of goal.

Newcastle had to be a little more expansive, and that left gaps in their shape at the back. With the likes of Mane, Firmino and Salah lurking, that was always going to be a dangerous situation for the Magpies, and after Salah spurned a couple of golden opportunities, Mane finally put the game to bed.

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#4 The Mohamed Salah paradox

Salah was denied by a stunning Federico Fernandez tackle while he was through on goal

Just a couple of days ago, it was announced that Mo Salah received no votes for the Football Writers' Association's Footballer of the Year award. On face value, that seemed ridiculous for someone who scored 19 goals and assisted ten this Premier League season. But, such are the standards that Salah has set for himself, that such a return seems inadequate.

This game summed up Salah's season rather accurately. He came on for the last half-an-hour and was nigh-on unplayable for the most of his stay on the pitch. He tormented Matt Ritchie and Danny Rose by taking up the space in between them, and produced some moments of absolute class.

But he had four clear-cut opportunities, which he probably should have taken, even in those thirty minutes on the pitch. He hit the post with his first touch after giving Dubravka the eyes. He then was denied by a stunning Federico Fernandez tackle while he was through on goal. He then failed to control a simple pass from Wijnaldum that would have given him a one-on-one with Dubravka.

Mo Salah endured a frustrating cameo on the final day of the season

The fourth chance was clearcut, but still, the toughest of the lot, as he put a curler well over the bar.

This has been the story of Salah's season. It's been all well and good that Liverpool have ended up as champions. However, their Egyptian King will look back and wonder if, on an individual level, he could have produced another season similar to his last two, and whether he could have won a third straight Golden Boot.

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#5 Where do Liverpool go from here?

Newcastle United v Liverpool FC - Premier League

Champions. 99 points. 196 points in the last two seasons out of a total of 228 on offer. How do you improve on that? Along with Pep Guardiola's sensational Manchester City side, Klopp's Liverpool are as close to perfection as any Premier League side has ever been. So how does the charismatic German now ensure that he puts a team out, starting the 12th of September, that stays hungry, continues to win games of football, and maybe even improve on near-perfection, who knows?

It's clear that Liverpool's first team is as good as any the Premier League has to offer. But there are a couple of areas that Klopp will want to fine-tune. For example, the two full-backs are genuinely in a league of their own. What if, for some reason, Klopp has to go into a significant game without either of them? Do Liverpool have an alternate source through which they can impact games?

There is a clear pathway for three amazingly talented youngsters in Curtis Jones, Neco Williams and Harvey Elliott, but with all being teenagers just now, would it be wise to burden them in big games for a side that is chasing perfection? Maybe not.

Klopp is in an enviable position this summer, no doubt, but he still has work to do. This Liverpool team might have been crowned the best in the land, but there is a feeling that they can be even better over the next couple of years.