Match Reports
Liverpool 3-0 Newcastle Liverpool kept up the pressure on the leader's with one of their best performances of the season at Anfield. The game got underway after a half hour delay, caused by a power failure which saw all the floodlights go out, but when the action did begin, it proved to be worth the wait. The opening stages of the game was played at an unbelievably high tempo, with each side playing direct, attacking football in search of the opening goal, but it didnt take long for Liverpool to stamp their authority on the contest and for most of the match were by far the better side. Nicolas Anelka had the first great chance, and would have scored a terrific goal from a tight angle, had Shay Given not been equal to the shot to tip it onto the bar. Anelka was again looking for a goal a few minutes later when, after a quick break by Liverpool, he turned a Newcastle defender in the area and curled a right foot shot just wide of the far post. It appeared only a matter of time before a goal arrived, and inevitably, Nicolas Anelka was involved. A cross by the Frenchman beat everyone in the area except for Danny Murphy, who had to stretch to reach the shot, but just about managed to get a low shot at goal which beat Shay Given at his near post to give Liverpool a deserved lead at the break. It was much the same story in the second half, with the Reds on top and always looking dangerous, but despite the threats posed by Anelka, Heskey and Owen, it was two midfield players who killed the game off. Danny Murphy almost walked the ball through the Newcastle defence after picking the ball from around 30 yards out, and a neat chip over Given from just inside the area doubled the lead and grab his second of the evening. Newcaslte had a goal disallowed for offside, but Jerzy Dudek was to have a relatively quiet time for the rest of the night, which saw the game settled by a third Liverpool goal, scored by former Newcastle player, Dietmar Hamann. A good build up was concluded with an excellent finish from 25 yards by Hamann, who placed the shot in the corner of the goal rather than choosing to go for power. The result moves Liverpool four points above Newcastle, who have a game in hand, but the Reds are still two behind United, and one point behind Arsenal, who also have a game in hand. View match pictures from this game!
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