TOMORROW Liverpool travel to the North East to take on Alan Pardew’s Newcastle at St James’ Park. In honour of this fixture I thought I would look back on one of the many fantastic games between both clubs.
I have selected the 5-1 win for the Reds which took place in 2008. Sit back and relieve the goals in this one to remember game.
Steven Gerrard ran the Liverpool show in midfield and scored two superb goals in a virtuoso performance. The Reds went top of the Premier League just as 2008 was drawing to a close.
Rafa selected the likes of Reina, Benayoun, Ryan Babel and Insua. He rested both Albert Riera and Robbie Keane. Newcastle’s current Director of Football, Joe Kinnear, managed the Newcastle side.
Liverpool created chances at will, and only a combination of brilliant goalkeeping from Given and poor finishing from us stopped Newcastle from shipping at least six goals in the first half alone.
Given set the tone for his one-man show of defiance by blocking Dirk Kuyt and saving brilliantly twice from Gerrard inside the first 13 minutes.
Hyypia headed wide of an open goal from Gerrard’s free-kick before Lucas somehow failed to turn in from a yard following a goalmouth scramble. The Brazilian then had a header turned away by Given before Charles N’Zogbia cleared another Hyypia header off the line.
Finally after 31 minutes Steven Gerrard opened the scoring after he crashed his shot in off the post following a neat move involving Javier Mascherano and Yossi Benayoun.
Two minutes later Sami Hyypia made it 2-0 after he rose above Fabricio Coloccini to head home a Gerrard corner.
[ad_pod id=”unruly-video” align=”center”]
Defender David Edgar (who now plays for Championship side Barnsley) pulled one back for the Magpies after a lack of concentration from former player Jamie Carragher. 1-2 at half time, however the second half was a different story.
Engima Ryan Babel given a rare start from Rafa made it 3-1 five minutes after the restart, after he poked home from close range after a string of defenders failed to clear a corner.
Stevie G who had pulled the strings in the midfield was rewarded with his second goal after Lucas slipped an inviting through ball into Gerrard’s path, and he was in no mood to let Given deny him again as he chipped a clever right-foot finish over the advancing keeper.
Edgar who had gave Newcastle hope in the first half became the enemy he brought down David N’Gog in the box and midfield maestro Xabi Alonso wrapped up the three points which were never in doubt from the penalty box.
One of the best away performances I had witnessed Liverpool play in the Premier League era. Who knows what heights the squad Rafa had at his disposal could reach if had been given the kind of cash and stability he craved. We can only dream.
Hopefully the current crop of Liverpool stars that still includes Lucas and Steven Gerrard can put in another 5 star performance this Saturday lunchtime.
Follow me on Twitter @MRSSG
Live4Liverpool is recruiting columnists. For further info contact the site editor at live4liverpool@snack-media.com
Follow us on Twitter here: @live4Liverpool and ‘Like’ us on Facebook
NEWCASTLE 0 LIVERPOOL 5 is the result.