Newcastle United v Liverpool

Newcastle United v Liverpool

11 December 2010

Fernando Torres back at the expense of Ryan Babel and fresh from the birth of he and wife Olalla’s new-born baby boy, was the only change from Monday night’s victory over Aston Villa.  After being arguably Liverpool’s best player in the last two games Babel was unlucky not to have continued his run in the side particularly after having scored against Aston Villa and providing the front-line with an injection of searing pace and unpredictability.

Newcastle, seemingly a club in the midst of tearing itself apart, had their  Mersey power source Kevin Nolan and Joey Barton back together to instil the missing experience and raison d’être. Liverpool dominated the opening proceedings in terms of possession, but, as was the problem throughout the match, the lack of intensity allowed a Newcastle team which must have felt some trepidation after the sacking of Chris Houghton to more than hold its own.

Newcastle took an early 15^th minute lead, from a Barton free-kick nodded down by Carroll into the path of the on-rushing Nolan to prod home past a clearly frustrated Reina.  Worryingly, this was clearly a pre-meditated move, with Barton signalling his intent to hit the ball across in the vicinity of Carroll to run on too, yet Skrtel was unable to stop Carroll and Nolan strode past Konchesky.

Liverpool still managed three attempts on goal, one of which, a deflected shot from Meireles was cleared off the line from Enrique and another a glorious chance which should have seen Liverpool go in on level terms, was headed wide by Kyrgiakos with the goal at his mercy.

Raul Meireles was the one Liverpool player who stood above the mediocrity. He was sharp in the tackle and his passing on the move was light years above anything else on the pitch.  He continues to progress, especially, since his move into centre-midfield and his fitness levels increasing by the match.

Liverpool, obviously fired-up by the manager Hodgson came out in the second-half with a faster tempo.  It was no surprise then to see Kuyt equalise, albeit, from a huge slice of luck, with a shot deflecting of Taylor after bouncing into Kuyt’s path after striking Campbell on the back.  Liverpool were now in the ascendency, with Torres put clean through from a glorious pass from an early taken free-kick by Konchesky, shooting straight at Krul.  Minutes later, Ngog failed to connect with a header in front of goal.

Nile Ranger replacing the injured Ameobi, injected urgency and belief into Newcastle and caused consternation in the Liverpool backline, almost scoring from his own work when pressurising Skrtel into a mistake and knocking the ball wide while at full stretch.

A long punt from Krul destabilised the centre of the Liverpool defence and allowed Barton to steal through unchecked, to flick the ball past Reina with 10 minutes to go.  Newcastle were not finished yet, collecting the ball 25 yards out with the Liverpool defence and midfield standing-off as if allowing him a free shot on goal, Carroll took the opportunity to unleash a daisy-cutter of a shot which nestled in the corner of  Reina’s net and moved Newcastle ahead of Liverpool into eighth place in the table.

KP

11 December 2011