Liverpool beat Newcastle United 2-0 at Anfield to close the gap with fourth placed Manchester City to just four points.

Raheem Sterling opened the scoring early on and Joe Allen wrapped up the three points when he doubled the home sides lead on 70 minutes.

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Reds boss Brendan Rodgers was forced to play a makeshift defence with Martin Skrtel out suspended and Mamadou Sakho injured.

Emre Can started in a back-four for the first time alongside Dejan Lovren with Johnson and Moreno as fullbacks.

Liverpool had conceded six goals in their last two games going into the match but despite a few wobbly moments the home side defended well and kept a clean sheet.

Liverpool 2-0 Newcastle

Stadium: Anfield

Referee: L Mason

Kick-Off: 20:00 GMT

Liverpool: Mignolet, Johnson, Can, Lovren, Moreno, Allen, Lucas, Henderson, Ibe, Coutinho, Sterling

Subs: Jones, Toure, Lambert, Manquillo, Borini, Brannagan, Markovic

Manager: Brendan Rodgers

Newcastle United: Krul, R.Taylor, Janmaat, Williamson, Colback, Anita, Abeid, Sissoko, Cabella, Obertan, Perez.

Subs: Elliot, Sterry, Gouffran, Gutierrez, Ameobi, Armstong, Riviere.

Manager: John Carver

Goals: Sterling, Joe Allen