By J Wade
January 13 2005

Benitez will be very pleased with Liverpool's result and especially with his teams performance as they beat Newcastle 3-1. This win has ended an unlucky week for the Reds with an impressive win. In the lead up to this game every one was expecting an exciting game full of goals and drama. In the past this fixture has produced some of the best games of all time. Players who have taken part in some of these matches in the past were spectating the game from the stands today including Kenny Dalglish and Ian Rush. Another person watching from the sidelines was Benitez who needed to win so Liverpool can still have their eyes set on 4th place. The past week hasn’t been so good for Liverpool, first facing defeat in the Merseyside Derby and then losing two points on Tuesday against Portsmouth who equalised in the last minute.

Benitez made a number of changes from the game against Portsmouth. Riise, Mellor and Garcia came in taking the places of Nunez, Hamann and Traore.
The game started very edgy and frantic with a lot of space. This allowed Baros to take a run down the right wing and cross from the bi-line to Luis Garcia who thrashed his shot high and wide of the goal from about 9 yards out. This chance came after just 2 minutes. Newcastle threatened Liverpool on a number of occasions but came closest with a free kick from Olivier Bernard which fizzed just wide of Dudek’s goal. Newcastle took the lead on the 32nd minute when Kluivert turned in a pass from Bowyer. Kluivert was obviously off side when the ball was passed to Bowyer but he wasn’t interfering with play, however he eventually turned in the ball, which lead to referee Graham Poll involved in a controversial decision.

The lead only lasted 2 minutes before Bramble headed in a corner from Steven Gerrard into the back of his own net. Liverpool quickly turned the game on its head when Mellor set up by Baros passed the ball into the net on the 38th minute to put Liverpool 2-1 up. Garcia had the last chance on the half when he could have finished the game for Liverpool.

At half time I’m sure Benitez would have been saying to his players not to sit back and instead go for the third. The players must have listened to him as most of the pressure fell on Newcastle’s defensive duties. Baros scored Liverpool’s third goal on the 60th minute after he was set up by Kewell who turned a Newcastle player brilliantly and slotted a ball through their defence to Baros who took the ball round Shay Given with excellent composure.

The win means that Liverpool stay in 6th position and ends an unlucky week for the Reds.


Liverpool: Dudek, Riise, Carragher, Hyypia, Finnan, Kewell, Alonso, Gerrard, Garcia, Baros, Mellor.
Subs - Harrison, Sinama Pongolle, Nunez, Hamann, Traore

Newcastle United: Given, Bernard, O'Brien, Bramble, Elliott, Dyer, Jenas, Bowyer, Milner, Kluivert, Ameobi.
Subs - Harper, N'Zogbia, Ambrose, Robert