Captain Fantastic Can't Save The Sinking Ship

30th October 2010

Kick-off: 1730

Newcastle United (1) 2

Nolan 14
Guttierez 78

Liverpool (0) 1

Gerrard 53

Ref: Howard Webb

Att: 51, 004

Live on CSBS

Adam Watkinson reports from St James’ Park

Newcastle continued enjoying their return to the Barclays Premier League with their sixth win in ten matches. This win also saw them extend their 100% home record for a fifth match to sink Liverpool. The Reds’ fall from grace continued amidst more rumours of their financial instability. However, despite all the off the field drama Liverpool started in surprisingly confident fashion as they attempted to take the game to Newcastle with David N’Gog popping in a thirty yard effort in the opening sixty seconds. Newcastle though, were in no mood to be bullied and their marauding midfielder Kevin Nolan played in form striker Shola Ameobi through one-one-one with Jose Reina only to see him smash the ball well over the bar. The Magpies have relished their return to the top flight and this win moved them up to fourth spot in the Premier League table. Liverpool, who finished in 8th last season seeing them equal their worst ever finish in Premier League history, have endured a difficult start to the season after the sale of key players Javier Mascherano and Fernando Torres amongst others. This showed no sign of ending when Newcastle broke from a Liverpool corner and Jonas Guttierez provided an inch perfect pass to Nolan who, from eight yards out, couldn’t miss. Reina was forced to pick the ball out of his yet once more just five minutes later after Jose Enrique’s cross was nodded home by Nolan but his goal was wrongly ruled out for offside. It wasn’t all plain sailing for the Magpies though as Liverpool’s inspirational captain Steven Gerrard brought the best out of long serving goalkeeper Steve Harper twice in the space of six minutes. Harper managed to push Gerrard’s twenty yard free-kick wide of the target first of all but then saved from point blank range when Gerrard met Jay Spearing’s inviting cross from just five yards. Harper was clearly in fine form as he proved once more five minutes before half-time when Dirk Kuyt sprung Newcastle’s offside trap only to have his fierce shot tipped onto the bar by Harper and hacked away by left-back Enrique. There was a spate of rash challenges as we started the second half and this eventually saw Newcastle captain Alan Smith booked for a challenge on Kuyt just outside the area. Kuyt rolled the ball to Gerrard who struck it sweetly past the despairing dive of Harper and the Reds were level. Newcastle always looked the more threatening of the two but their job was made a lot harder on sixty-five minutes when Smith reacted angrily to a challenge from Liverpool defender Emiliano Insua. The two clashed and referee Howard Webb saw no need for the second yellow and Smith was sent from the field with a straight red. Under pressure Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez urged his players on and decided to introduce a half-fit Yossi Benayoun to the pitch in place of David N’Gog. This almost proved to be an inspired move just two minutes later when Benayoun cut in from the left side beating three Newcastle players but the ever reliable Harper was able to push his shot clear of danger. Strangely enough Harper was to be key in the goal that won Newcastle the match. After sustaining heavy periods of pressure from a bloodthirsty Liverpool outfit, Newcastle conceded yet another free kick next to the corner flag. Harper claimed it comfortably and quickly launched the ball to Guttierez who played the ball through a red-faced Jamie Carragher’s legs leaving him on the floor before rounding Reina to send the Toon Army into raptures. There was more good news for the Newcastle fans as Steven Taylor made a ten minute appearance on his return from a long-term knee injury. Liverpool fell to pieces after the goal and had it not been for poor finishing from Messrs Ameobi, Nolan and Pancrate it could have been a lot worse. As the final whistle blew you could see the contrasting emotions from managers Chris Hughton and Rafael Benitez and some fear this could have been Benitez last match as Liverpool manager. They slip to fifth from bottom after this defeat, their fourth of the campaign already and are stuck on just ten points after this three-game losing streak. They face Aston Villa next week in a must win match. Newcastle meanwhile can enjoy being just five points off the summit following their magnificent start to the season. They face tougher opposition next week as they take on Manchester United next Sunday, a match that pitches fourth v fifth in the table. Be sure to tune in for our live coverage of the Aston Villa and Liverpool match as well as the late kick-off between Manchester City and Everton.

Ratings

Newcastle United: Harper 9*, Warnock 6, Upson 7, Coloccini 5 (S. Taylor 79, 6) Enrique 7, Ambrose 5 (Pancrate 70, 6) Nolan 7, Smith 5, Guttierez 7, Ameobi 7, Beattie 6 (Ranger 55, 6). Subs Not Used: Krul, Kadar, Guthrie, R. Taylor.

Liverpool: Reina 7, Johnson 6, Carragher 5, Skrtel 6, Insua 7, Kuyt 6 (Babel 80, 6), Lucas 4, Gerrard 7, Spearing 6, El Zhar 5 (Plessis 65, 6), N’Gog 7 (Benayoun 62, 7) Subs Not Used: Cavalieri, Aurelio, Degen, Eccleston.

Referee: Howard Webb 8.

Premier League Table

P PTS GD
1. Chelsea 10 26 +15
2. Arsenal 9 23 +18
3. Tottenham 10 22 +6
4. Newcastle 10 21 +11
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5. Manchester United 9 16 +10
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6. Manchester City 9 16 +7
7. Sunderland 10 15 0
8. Bolton 10 14 +1
9. Wolves 10 14 0
10. Everton 10 14 -3
11. Aston Villa 10 13 +1
12. Nottingham Forest 10 13 -8
13. Fulham 10 12 -2
14. West Brom 10 12 -5
15. Birmingham 10 11 -4
16. Liverpool 10 10 -2
17. West Ham 10 9 -7
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18. Stoke 9 7 -8
19. Wigan 10 6 -15
20. Blackburn 10 5 -14

Tomorrow's fixtures: Arsenal v Manchester City (1330, Live on Sky) and Manchester United v Stoke City (1600), Live on Sky)