Liverpool left-back target PASSES Salah audition

Liverpool took a huge stride towards securing the Premier League title on Wednesday night.

The 2-0 victory against Newcastle - allied with another Arsenal slip-up against Nottingham Forest - puts the Reds within seven wins of their first top-flight success since 2020.

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The nature of the win was perhaps surprising; having given as good as they got at St. James’ Park earlier in the season, Eddie Howe’s side were passive at Anfield and allowed Liverpool to dictate the game.

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That bodes well ahead of the Carabao Cup final next month where the Magpies again lie in wait. But one interesting sub-plot to the game on Wednesday night was the battle between Mohamed Salah and Lewis Hall.

Anfield Watch revealed earlier this week that Liverpool view the 20-year-old left-back as a viable successor to Andy Robertson, although a deal is unlikely to be easy.

Hall played on loan at Newcastle from Chelsea last season before completing a permanent deal for around £30 million in July.

With a long-term contract, two England caps and a burgeoning reputation, it would appear Hall is going to cost a lot more than that nowadays.

Hall the brightest spark in poor display

He was the bright spot in Newcastle’s otherwise unimpressive display up against the world’s best player in Salah.

The game marked the 32-year-old’s first goalless display since Brentford away on January 18 - a sequence of six consecutive games while scoring.

Salah did however manage to wiggle free to provide an assist for Alexis Mac Allister but Hall certainly managed as well as any other left-back this season.

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The Egyptian only completed ONE of his attempted 11 dribbles and had a solitary shot on Nick Pope’s goal all night. He might have had a penalty in the first half, when Hall appeared to bundle him over, but Stuart Atwell opted to blow for a Salah foul on Hall instead earlier in the move.

While Hall was limited from an attacking perspective - in contrast to his recent outings - he managed three clearances, one blocked shot, seven tackles and won eight of 11 ground duels.

That’s a complete turnaround from last season when Hall was found wanting defensively.

He made one start in the Champions League last term and was replaced at half-time in that game against Borussia Dortmund.

Hall improving defensively

It was a similar story in the Premier League on his first start - when he was hooked after 45 minutes against Bournemouth.

It wasn’t until the closing weeks of the campaign that Hall finally got into the team - making five of his eight Premier League starts in the last five games of the season.

But the hard work both Hall and Howe have been putting in behind the scenes is now beginning to pay off.

“I feel I get loads of the ball in good areas and last season I worked on the defensive side of my game which is really important to me now,” he told England Football.

Working with Ashley Cole at Chelsea - and again at England - has also helped claims Hall. “He helped me a lot when I played towards the end of my spell at Chelsea. He gave me a lot of advice and he tries to help me out now,” he said.

And he’s needed the extra tuition.

Hall among the top full-backs

Hall was a midfielder in the Chelsea academy before then-manager Thomas Tuchel picked him out for a left-back role in the first team. But he has been learning, adding defensive solidity to his consistent attacking contributions.

He’s made five assists in 27 Premier League matches this season and was man of the match in the recent win against Nottingham Forest. That came on Sunday when he made the most touches (93), tackles (6), crosses (8) and the joint-most chances created (3) for the Magpies.

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He also contributed to all four goals.

In an intriguing stat published by the Athletic, Hall is one of only three top-flight full-backs to make over 50 overlapping and 50 underlapping runs this season. The others? Antonee Robinson and Milos Kerkez.

It’s no wonder the Reds’ scouting department have sat up and taken notice.

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