Finn

Liverpool breathed life into their top-four hopes with a 2-0 win at fourth-placed Newcastle United, who had Nick Pope sent off to rule him out of the EFL Cup final.

Newcastle had only lost once – to the Reds last April – at St James Park in the league over the past 12 months, but they came unstuck on Saturday thanks to the visitors clinical finishing.

Darwin Nunez s first Premier League goal since November edged Liverpool ahead before Cody Gakpo netted for the second game running, but it was not until Nick Pope s dismissal in the 22nd minute that Newcastle looked doomed.

Even then, Eddie Howe s men coped well with the disadvantage and had chances to reduce the arrears, but the crossbar and Alisson kept them at bay as Liverpool moved to within six points of th…