Defender Dejan Lovren believes Liverpool have the right mentality and calmness to keep their rivals at bay at the top of the Premier League.

A 4-0 victory over Newcastle United, in which the centre-back scored a superb half-volley to open the scoring, coupled with a surprise second consecutive defeat for Manchester City extended the Reds' lead at the top to six points.

Tottenham are now their closest rivals with City dropping to third, a further point behind.

It means Liverpool will go to the Etihad in a week's time still top of the table whatever the outcome of results on Saturday, but Lovren insists they are not looking beyond the visit of Arsenal.

"We play every game like a final," he told liverpoolfc.com. "It's what we learned in previous seasons: it doesn't mean anything if you win and then the next game you don't do well.

"So, we'll forget this game and next concentrate on Arsenal. That's what keeps us going.

"We have big character in the squad. If you want to be at the top, you need to have the winning mentality and the calmness.

"There are two tough games now: Arsenal and Man City. We need to keep this momentum."

Manager Jurgen Klopp has found himself having to keep a lid on the expectations now being levelled at his side but felt the display against a Newcastle team set up to frustrate by Rafael Benitez on his return to Anfield, could not have been much better.

"A pretty perfect day for us; not a perfect performance, but a really good performance. Result-wise and a lot of parts of the performance, really good," Klopp said.

"If you are 2-0 up then you have to control the game. In the past we became, I wouldn't say sloppy, but we lost concentration. That doesn't help, obviously.

"Now we are much more awake, we control it in a better way, we switch sides, we still prepare and create – not as many as maybe would be possible but still enough – and we score goals."

Talking about goals, Liverpool's regular supplier, Mohamed Salah, will be available to face Arsenal and Manchester City as he will not face a ban for diving.

Salah went down in the area to earn a penalty – which he scored – in the 4-0 Boxing Day win over Newcastle.

He tumbled after pressure from defender Paul Dummett, who appeared to put his hand on the Egypt international.

The Football Association has decided not to pursue a charge as there was contact, so the incident did not meet the threshold for a diving charge.

The FA did, however, did see fit to issue a charge of improper conduct to Unai Emery, after the Arsenal head coach kicked a water bottle into the crowd during his side's draw at Brighton.

The Spaniard immediately apologised to a supporter, who was also given the shirt of Arsenal captain Laurent Koscielny as a gesture by the club.

Emery went to speak to the home fan following the incident and at full-time after the Gunners drew 1-1 at the Amex Stadium on Boxing Day.

The FA announced on Thursday afternoon that the 47-year-old had been charged over the incident.