Virgil van Dijk 8, Naby Keita 8; Nabil Bentaleb 5: Newcastle v Liverpool player ratings

Hind Al Soulia - Riyadh - NEWCASTLE RATINGS: Martin Dubravka - 7: Could do nothing against any of the three goals but produced a wonderful one-handed save to deny Minamino in first half. Reuters

Federico Fernandez - 6: Newcastle's only fit senior centre-half stuck to the task well. One perfect sliding block to deny Salah chance to score in second half. Getty

Danny Rose - 6: Did OK in a more central role than he is used to due to the Magpies' injury crisis at the back. Will be interesting to see whether his loan spell from Spurs is made permanent. Reuters

Javier Manquillo - 5: No match for Van Dijk in the air when the Liverpool defender headed home the equaliser and allowed Origi too much time and space before the attacker put Liverpool 2-1 up. Looked what he is: a full-back covering at centre-half. Getty

Matt Ritchie - 6: Worked hard as always but offered little threat going forward. AFP

Nabil Bentaleb - 5: Like the rest of his loan spell on Tyneside, just didn't contribute enough. Picked up a knock and was taken off early in second half. Probably his last game for the club. AFP

Valentino Lazaro - 5: One of three loan players in Newcastle's starting line-up. A rare start but, like the rest of Newcastle's midfield, spent the game chasing Liverpool shadows. Allowed Mane to cut inside and score the third. Reuters

Jonjo Shelvey - 7: Excellent quick-free-kick over the top of the Liverpool defence to put Gayle through for his early goal. Always trying to make things happen and happy to do the dirty work when not in possession - which was the case for a vast majority of this game. Reuters

Miguel Almiron - 5: Very quiet game from the Paraguayan attacker - but Newcastle were rarely in possession to threaten Liverpool much at the back. AFP

Allan Saint-Maximin - 5: Has not looked fit the last few games and was taken off at the break after a quiet first half. Reuters

Dwight Gayle - 6: On his toes and showed great composure with goal in first 30 seconds. Ploughing a lone furrow up front for most of the match. AFP

SUBS: Joelinton - (On for Saint Maximin 45') 5: A new red hair colour was his most striking contribution. Getty

Sean Longstaff - (On for Bentaleb 49') 6: Shot just wide soon after coming on. AFP

Andy Carroll - (On for Gayle 70') 6: Big striker had little chance to make an impact. PA

Isaac Hayden - (On for Almiron 70') 6: Brought on with Newcastle chasing the game and Liverpool well in charge. AFP

Kelland Watts - (On for Rose 74') 6: A daunting Premier League debut up against Salah, Firmino and Sane. Reuters

LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker 7: Picked the ball out of the net after 30 seconds but barely touched the ball again as Liverpool dominated. Reuters

Neco Williams 7: Played Gayle onside for early Newcastle goal although it was centre-back Gomez who was caught sleeping. Welshman will be pleased with the gametime making only his second Premier League start. AFP

Virgil van Dijk - 8: Towering header to pull his team level in the first half. Another header at start of second half straight at Dubravka. Glides around the defence and commands the team so well from the back. Getty

Joe Gomez - 6: Caught flat-footed by Shelvey's quick-thinking free-kick that set up first goal. Getty

Andy Robertson - 7: Offered plenty of service down the left as usual. EPA

Georginio Wijnaldum - 6: Solid if unspectacular against his former club. PA

Naby Keita - 8: Impressive showing from the Guinean who was the driving force behind Liverpool's complete control of the game. Getty

James Milner - 7: Veteran was excellent as Liverpool dominated midfield. Rarely wastes possession and produced his usual tireless performance. Reuters

Takumi Minamino - 6: A rare start for the Japanaese attacker and he forced Dubravka into fine save in first half and drove another chance straight at the Slovakian goalkeeper. AFP

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - 7: Brilliant run and perfect cross to set up Van Dijk goal. Cracked a shot inches wide just before the break. EPA

Divock Origi - 7: Had done very little up against a makeshift Newcastle defence before curling home a lovely goal just before the hour mark. EPA

SUBS: Mohamed Salah - (On for Origi 64') 7: Hit the post with his second touch and looked desperate to grab his 20th league goal of the season - but it wasn't to be. Getty

Sadio Mane - (On for Minamino 64') 7: Magnificent curling finish to make it 3-1. Reuters

Roberto Firmino - (On for Oxlade-Chamberlain 64') 6: No goals for the Brazilian as Liverpool brought on their big three up front after the break. EPA

Trent Alexander-Arnold - (On for Williams 85') NA. Reuters

Curtis Jones - (On for Keita 85') NA. Getty