Newcastle Utd 0, Liverpool 3

Nov 24 2007 by Tony Barrett at St James's Park

LIVERPOOL romped to a resounding 3-0 win over an abysmal Newcastle United side at St James’ Park.

Goals from Steven Gerrard, Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel gave the Reds their fifth win on their travels already this season and provided a welcome boost to manager Rafa Benitez who has endured a difficult 48 hours following a much publicised fall out with club owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

In truth, the margin of victory should have been even greater but Fernando Torres left his shooting boots at home and wasted a succession of chances he would normally take with ease.

Newcastle’s tactics were no more imaginative than getting as many men as possible behind the ball but that never looked likely to keep a rampant Liverpool side at bay.

The Reds’ first shot on target came when Gerrard struck a superb from all of 30 yards which Newcastle keeper Shay Given did well to beat away to safety.

Jamie Carragher was next to try his luck from distance but his shot drifted well wide as Liverpool cranked up the pressure.

Practice makes perfect of course and the next time Liverpool hit one from range it resulted in them going a goal up.

Again, it was Gerrard who chanced his arm. A free kick was awarded after Emre tripped the dangerous Fernando Torres and after Lucas rolled the ball into Gerrard’s path, the Liverpool skipper hit an unstoppable shot into the roof of the Newcastle net.

It was a truly incredible strike and Gerrard turned to milk the adulation of the 3,000 Liverpool fans who had made the trip to the North East.

The Reds were well on top with Newcastle looking ragged in all departments. But the home team could have found themselves on level terms with 37 minutes gone when an Alan Smith volley whistled just wide of Pepe Reina’s right hand post.

On the stroke of half time Liverpool should have doubled their lead when Torres missed a pair of gilt edged chances.

First, the Spanish striker could only hit the ball into Given’s chest after being put through by Dirk Kuyt.

Then, when Kuyt retrieved possession Torres hit the post with the whole goal to aim at and Given nowhere to be seen.

It was only a temporary reprieve for Newcastle, however, as immediately after the restart Kuyt scored from a Gerrard corner which had been flicked on at the near post by Sami Hyypia.

It was a goal which Liverpool undoubtedly deserved and one which again exposed Newcastle’s continuing frailty from set pieces.

Liverpool’s dominance was total and Kewell and Torres both went close to increasing their advantage as the home fans turned on manager Sam Allardyce with chants of “Big Sam for England”.

Torres then had yet another chance only to be denied by Given.

Newcastle simply couldn’t live with Liverpool’s passing and movement and it came as no surprise when the Reds scored their third of the afternoon after 66 minutes.

This time the scorer was substitute Ryan Babel who finished calmly following a wonderful one two with Gerrard.

At that point the home fans started leaving the ground in droves.

Torres was tormenting the Newcastle defence but his finishing was letting him down far too often. He could have added a fourth when clean through but rolled the ball wide.

It just wasn’t Torres’ afternoon as he again missed a glaring opportunity after being put through by the outstanding Gerrard.

But three goals were more than enough for a Liverpool side which remains unbeaten in the Premiership so far this season.

TEAMS

NEWCASTLE: Given, Enrique (Carr, 77), Rozehnal, Emre (Barton, 50), Martins, N’Zogbia (Milner, 58), Smith, Geremi, Beye, Butt, Viduka.

LIVERPOOL: Reina, Finnan, Hyypia, Carragher, Arbeloa, Gerrard (Crouch, 80), Sissoko, Lucas, Kewell (Babel, 57), Torres, Kuyt (Riise, 75).

REFEREE: Alan Wiley