Review: Liverpool 3 Newcastle 1

Stevie celebrates his goal in our 3-1 win

REDS TURN OVER TOON WITH BELLAMY BRACE

Tonight saw a much improved performance from our lads as they turned another possible draw into a comfortable win. I'm happy my prediction was off and taking 3 points in the last game of the year bodes well for a successful 2012.

The game started brightly with lots of pace and temp, We bossed possession and really imposed our game on Newcastle. Newcastle clogged the midfield and got men behind the ball when ever possible making it hard to break them down. This also blunted them going forward as they offered nothing as an attacking force.

With what had to be Newcastle's first meaningful push forward a Liverpool clearance thundered into Vuckic's face cause him to rush off the field for treatment, the ball was picked up by Newcastle and a seemingly distracted Liverpool defense saw the ball innocuously find the back of the net thanks to a shot by Ba that was slightly deflected off Agger's shoulder. 1-0 Newcastle.

Reina left on the floor as Newcastle take the lead.

We responded magnificently though and went straight on the front foot, and with only 5 mins gone since Newcastle took the lead we were level. Craig Bellamy scored from about 14 yards out as he found space in the box to find the bottom right corner. 1-1!

Bellamy wheels away after bring 'pool back to level terms.

The game continued along the same pattern for the rest of the half, we dominated the ball with out threatening to much and Newcastle sat back. Carroll was starved of service yet again and didn't really seem to link well at all with any of the Liverpool attacking players. Half Time came and it was 1-1

The second half started off much the same as the first one ended, lots of Liverpool possession without much cutting edge. Newcastle were defending well, closing down the space quickly and forcing us to use our wide men to get the ball into threatening areas.

Then a game changing moment happened. On the hour mark Steven Gerrard was subbed on and Adam was taken off. Adam had a good game, he is defiantly a better player when he's not playing in that holding midfield role and he should be pleased with his contribution.

With Stevie G on the field we looked like another team. All of a sudden Carroll was getting service, and defense splitting balls where being played all over the park. Carroll nearly scored when a Stevie g cross found Carroll's head only for it to hit the cross bar. Shortly after that we did take the lead when Daniel Agger won a free kick outside the area. Craig Bellamy took on the responsibility and he curled his shot past the Newcastle keeper Krul who must of been unsighted by the on running Carroll. 2-1 'pool!

Bellamy Curls his free kick past an unsighted Krul 2-1 Liverpool!

Shortly after we took the lead Newcastle had a chance to equalize when Demba Ba found himself 1 on 1 with Agger, he then delightfully chipped the on coming Reina and the ball looked goal bound until a heroic effort from Skrtel saw him clear the ball off the line, a fantastic piece of defending that saw us go on to win us the game.

Not only was it a morale boost for everyone to see Stevie G back and playing well he went on to score! with one of his typical driving runs into the box down the left he looked to find Carroll, but he was well marked and before the ball found the byline Stevie drilled the ball through the legs of the Newcastle keeper. 3-1 'pool and Stevie is back!

Stevie G scores from a tight angle to finish off Newcastle

At 3-1 Newcastle were beaten and never looked like coming back into it. Liverpool saw the game out easily with Andy Carroll almost netting number 4 when a sloppy Newcastle back pass left keeper Krul playing his clearance against Carroll only for it rebound well away from him and into the path of Downing who hit a hopeful shot from 40+ yards out that sailed over the bar,

3-1 was the final score, a much more confident and lethal Liverpool performance. I'm happy with the result and how well the lads applied themselves against a difficult Newcastle side.

FTK MoM: Jay Spearing

It would of been easy to pick Bellamy as the MoM tonight but i went with the unsung performance of Jay Spearing. I thought that Jay was fantastic tonight in that holding midfield role, breaking down Newcastle's passing game, pressing the midfield so they had little to no time on the ball, and spraying attacking passes out to our wingers with exceptional accuracy. Players like Jay often do allot of the work with none of the plaudits, that stops today, well done Jay!


pics courtesy of liverpoolfc.tv