Mo Salah revealed he swapped his boots after a penalty miss to turn in a stunning second-half performance that swept away Newcastle at a rain-soaked Anfield.

But Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp almost lost his wedding ring celebrating the victory in front of the Kop before the Sky cameraman found it on the turf. The Reds moved three points clear at the top of the Premier League to take hold of the title race after this six-goal thriller.

Salah missed a first-half penalty but then tapped home the opener, played a pivotal role in the next two goals and wrapped up the win with a late spot-kick. He said: “It’s not superstitious because I play with many boots.

“But when I feel it’s going to play with my head, okay, out, change the boots! But I don’t like to go in the second half of this game thinking ‘I didn’t score with this. So I just made my mind calm and focused on the game.”

Liverpool’s win leaves them five points ahead of champions Manchester City – albeit having played a game more – but it was Salah’s last game before he heads off to the Africa Cup of Nations. The Egyptian could miss up to eight games – four of them in the Premier League – if his country can go all the way in the competition.

Salah swapped from yellow boots to green (Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

He said: “Without me, I’m sure the (Liverpool) players will manage to win games.” Klopp added: “The camera man he annoyed me quite a few times this season, but today he now has a lot of shots free because [finding ring] that was really important.”

Newcastle have now lost five of their last six games in the Premier League but boss Eddie Howe bemoaned two late penalty decisions that went against his side. Diogo Jota was taken down by Martin Dubravka before Salah scored from the spot and Howe also felt Sean Longstaff should have had a penalty as well before the fourth goal.

Salah made the revelation on Monday Night Football after Liverpool’s win (Image: Sky Sports)

He added: “We have been put in a tough spot. The big thing I look for is the commitment and effort of the players. Was that there today? Yes.”