In the opening Premier League match of the New Year, Liverpool emerged victorious with a 4-2 win against Newcastle United. This triumph propelled the Reds to a three-point lead at the summit of the table. Notably, Mohamed Salah bid farewell to the team as he prepares to participate in the African Cup of Nations, leaving behind an impressive performance with two goals. On the other hand, Newcastle, who were previously leading the league, have encountered a significant decline, suffering eight defeats in their last nine matches across all competitions. Consequently, they currently occupy the ninth position in the Premier League standings. Among the top five teams, only Arsenal failed to secure maximum points during the New Year’s round of matches, succumbing to a defeat against Fulham on Sunday.