Liverpool displayed the form of champions as they increased their lead at the top of the Premier League to six points by beating Newcastle United 4-0 at Anfield.
Goals from Dejan Lovren, Mohamed Salah, Xherdan Shaqiri and Fabinho did the damage as Liverpool's chances of a first English top-flight title since the 1989-90 season were boosted by Manchester City's 2-1 defeat at Leicester.
Klopp made three changes to his starting XI whereas Benitez made an eye-catching six from Newcastle's previous result, a goalless draw against Fulham that featured zero shots on target.
Joselu missed a glorious opportunity after eight minutes, heading wide of Alisson Becker's goal following a wonderful cross from Matt Ritchie.
Liverpool punished Newcastle's lack of ruthlessness as three minutes later.
A deep ball into the area was woefully dealt with by Newcastle captain Jamaal Lascelles who headed it back into Lovren's path and the Croatian defender fired an unstoppable shot past Martin Dubravka.
Liverpool remained the dominant side as Sadio Mane, Shaqiri and Roberto Firmino ran through on goal at will. The pace with which Liverpool raced forward represented an increasingly ominous challenge for Newcastle.
Yet it is to the visitors' credit that they kept the scoreline to a single goal as the game flattened out towards half-time.
The closest Liverpool came to extending their lead arrived after 44 minutes when Dubravka did wonderfully well to tip over Shaqiri free-kick.
Not long after the interval Liverpool found a second as Salah doubled the lead from the penalty spot after Paul Dummett clumsily grabbed the Egyptian's arm.
Salah's 12th Premier League goal of the season took him briefly level with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as well as Harry Kane in the race for the golden boot.
He may be frustrated at not cashing in more as Newcastle tired and chances flowed for the hosts.
Instead, it was Shaqiri who was next on the scoresheet, turning home Trent Alexander-Arnold's cross.
Newcastle were dead and buried but their afternoon then got worse in the closing stages as Fabinho was given space at a corner and nodded in from close range for his first Liverpool goal.
Tags
Epl
