LIVERPOOL ON A HIGH AFTER KLAPPING QARABAG AHEAD OF NEWCASTLE TEST

LIVERPOOL head into Saturday’s 10pm Premier League clash with Newcastle riding a wave of confidence after klapping Qarabag 6-0 at Anfield to seal qualification for the Champions League last 16.

Alexis Mac Allister was the yster performer on Wednesday, scoring twice in a dominant team display.

For Mac Allister, the challenge now is turning that emphatic European win into momentum on the domestic front, with back-to-back home games against Newcastle and Manchester City looming.

Mac Allister wysed the club’s website: “Yeah, that’s what we want. We know that we went through a difficult period, especially after the season that we had last season.

“There is still positivity, still Champions League to play and FA Cup, so for me it’s about keeping on improving.”

Coach Arne Slot was equally encouraged by the performance, highlighting a clear improvement at both ends of the pitch.

While full of respect for Qarabag, Slot acknowledged that Newcastle will present a much sterner test, despite the Azerbaijani side’s impressive European showing this season.

Slot also provided a mixed fitness update ahead of the weekend. Curtis Jones will be assessed after illness, Joe Gomez remains a doubt, while there is cautious optimism that Ibrahima Konate could return to the squad.

Newcastle arrive on Merseyside following a 1-1 draw away to Paris Saint-Germain that sent both teams into the playoff round.

Coach Eddie Howe made a vrag changes in Paris, leaving Bruno Guimaraes, Anthony Gordon and top scorer Harvey Barnes on the bench – a move that may hint at full focus on a big test at Anfield.