Player ratings as Xherdan Shaqiri stars again and Liverpool extend their lead atop the Premier League

Liverpool FC kept Manchester City at arm's length with a comfortable win over Newcastle United.

Rafa Benitez is a hero at Anfield and he never looked like upsetting that status by pulling off an upset on this return to Merseyside, with his side completely outmatched by Jurgen Klopp's table-topping Reds. 

Dejan Lovren scored a brilliant half-volley early in proceedings to lend a sense of calm to the hosts' performance, preventing Newcastle from simply sitting deep and frustrating them. 

But Newcastle struggled to get out of their half, let alone create a chance, and when Mo Salah won and converted a penalty in the opening minute of the second half the result was never in doubt.

Xherdan Shaqiri, Liverpool's most dangerous player, scored a third and then Fabinho added a fourth to fully deflate Newcastle. 

Liverpool player ratings

Alisson 7: Precious little to do between the sticks but his distribution remains a key reason for this team's speed in attack. It shouldn't be overlooked.

Trent Alexander-Arnold 7.5: Lost possession a couple of times but otherwise did his usual job of buccaneering up the right flank and joining in with the attack, resulting in an assist for the third. 

Dejan Lovren 7.5: Untroubled in defence and scored the crucial opening goal with a strike of notable technical quality.

Virgil van Dijk 7: Fair to say that Newcastle's blunt strike force could do very little to trouble the Dutch tower of strength. Could have done better with a couple of chances at the other end but that isn't really what Liverpool pay all that moeny for. 

Andrew Robertson 7.5: A key part of Liverpool's set-piece team and the principal provider of width down the left-hand side. Defensively, as with his back-four colleagues, there was little to do. 

Jordan Henderson 7: Played his part in a fairly regulation win without ever needing to stand out. 

Georgino Wijnaldum 7: Very relaxed playing in a double-pivot with Henderson but greater challenges await. Replaced by Fabinho (7) on the hour, who scored the fourth. 

Xherdan Shaqiri 9 MOTM: £13m looked a bargain at the time but in such a vibrant attacking team he's really kicked on. A wonderful reverse-pass to Mane in the second half should have seen a goal. Eventually he had to score one himself. 

Roberto Firmino 7.5: Linked up well with his teammates in attack but couldn't get a goal. Replaced by Daniel Sturridge (6) on 68 minutes and didn't look delighted to be withdrawn before scoring. 

Sadio Mane 7.5: Such a frustrating player because he creates great situations but then makes the wrong decision or pass. Nonetheless, he must be a nightmare to play against and he runs defenders ragged. 

Mo Salah 8: Won a penalty, scored it and continues to be a dangerous central forward. This wasn't his greatest test though. 

Newcastle United player ratings

Martin Dubravka 7: Made some good saves but it was never likely to be his day. Couldn't have done much about the Liverpool goals.

DeAndre Yedlin 6: Was one of a number of Newcastle defenders who chased shadows all day. 

Jamaal Lascelles 4: Talk of an England call-up seems utterly bizarre when he looks so lost against top-level opposition. Partly responsible for the opener and not good enough in possession. 

Federico Fernandez 4: A rugged centre-back but never one who was likely to cope well with Liverpool's speed and verve. 

Paul Dummett 5: Gave away a penalty and was given a torrid going-over by the hosts' attack. 

Matt Ritchie 5: Created Newcastle's best chance in the early exchanges but otherwise a very defensive brief for the Scot. 

Isaac Hayden 5: Didn't protect the defence, which is surely his principal reason for being on the field. 

Mo Diame 5: The second-best Mo on the field looked leggy - perhaps no surprise given the defensive work needed - but he had little positive impact for the away side. 

Kenedy 5: Didn't offer the attacking outlet that Newcastle needed and never looked likely to. Replaced on 72. 

Yoshinori Muto 5: Is a five too generous? Newcastle's attackers were fundamentally auxiliary defenders so he gets the points for that contribution. 

Joselu 4: Missed his side's only good chance. His other contribution was defensively at set pieces, which sums up this game neatly.