BBC SPORT
Liverpool 2-0 Newcastle
Newcastle striker Michael Owen's return to old club Liverpool ended in
defeat, with Lee Bowyer also being red-carded to compound the visitors'
misery.
Steven Gerrard put the home side ahead when he burst through the Magpies
defence and drove home a rising shot.
A Peter Crouch header hit the post and squirmed in off keeper Shay Given for
the Reds' second goal as Newcastle and a below-par Owen struggled for form.
Bowyer was harshly sent off after 66 minutes for a tackle on Xabi Alonso.
There was much made of Owen's return to his former hunting ground but he was
a virtual spectator as a vibrant Liverpool dominated from the start.
The Reds showed no ill-effects from their recent Club World Championship
trip to Japan as Fernando Morientes weaved his way into the Newcastle box
before seeing his shot saved by a sprawling Given.
A fantastic instinctive save by the Magpies keeper then denied Harry Kewell
from close range as the visitors failed to deal with a Liverpool side
attacking from all angles.
Given was finally beaten when Crouch laid a ball into the path of a
rampaging Gerrard, who wrong-footed the Newcastle defence by feigning a shot
before powering home.
Newcastle were dealt a blow when Steven Taylor - returning after a lengthy
lay-off with a shoulder injury - suffered a similar injury after falling
awkwardly.
The visitors rarely threatened but when they did, John Arne Riise cleared a
Albert Luque cross from the Liverpool goalmouth before keeper Jose Reina
parried a speculative Charles N'Zogbia shot.
Liverpool were clearly superior and they added a second through Given's
unfortunate own goal.
Ironically, Owen would have revelled in chances being created by the home
side, while Liverpool may have been further ahead with a striker as clinical
as him in attack.
The team played very well and Mr Owen was left to trudge away and
dream of 'what if'... great stuff
>From Liverpool fan
The Reds were angered shortly after the break when they were denied a
penalty after they thought a Morientes header had been blocked by the arm of
Nolberto Solano on the line.
But Liverpool were comfortable against a disappointing Newcastle side and
the main talking point of the second half came when Bowyer was sent off.
His late challenge on Alonso led to players from both sides clashing - with
Crouch shoving Bowyer to the floor in the melee.
The Newcastle midfielder was dismissed, while Crouch escaped with a yellow
card as Liverpool secured an eighth win and clean sheet in the Premiership
on the trot. Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez:
"The team is working really hard in defence.
"We are also creating opportunities in attack and we have at this moment the
balance that we were looking for.
"It would be really improtant for us if we can keep this going."
Newcastle keeper Shay Given:
"We didn't play well and I think the better team won.
"Liverpool, especially in the first half, really came at us and we were on
the backfoot from the first minute.
"We just have to forget about it and move on to Wednesday's game against
Charlton and it is important we bounce back, especially at home."
Liverpool: Reina, Finnan (Josemi 78), Hyypia, Carragher, Riise, Luis Garcia,
Gerrard, Alonso, Kewell (Sinama Pongolle 67), Crouch (Cisse 72), Morientes.
Subs Not Used: Carson, Warnock.
Booked: Crouch.
Goals: Gerrard 14, Given 43 og.
Newcastle: Given, Ramage, Boumsong, Taylor (Bramble 28), Babayaro, Bowyer,
Faye, N'Zogbia (Solano 45), Luque (Ameobi 86), Shearer, Owen.
Subs Not Used: Elliott, Harper.
Sent Off: Bowyer (66).
Att: 44,197
Ref: M Halsey (Lancashire).
Story from BBC SPORT:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4537460.stm
Published: 2005/12/26 16:52:48 GMT
C BBC MMV
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