Newcastle vs Liverpool

Liverpool’s season seems to keep going from bad to worse to disastrous with every passing game, the latest disaster being a 3-1 defeat at St. James Park. No other club has inflicted more league defeats on the Magpies than the Reds. But it wasn’t to be this weekend!

Liverpool, having a pathetic record in their away encounters this season, were the first team to create a chance as Kyrgiakos drive was palmed away by Krul. But it was Newcastle’s skipper Kevin Nolan who broke the deadlock in the 15^th minute. Joey Barton’s freekick was floated into the box which was headed down by Andy Carroll into the path of Nolan, who gleefully slotted it past Pepe Reina.

Liverpool almost responded immediately but Rodriguez’s header went over the bar while Torres freekick was just wide. Newcastle were looking dominant up front with Andy Carroll and Shola Ameobi. The duo combined and Carroll’s volley was saved by Reina. Maxi Rodriguez’s appeal for a penalty went in vain to cap off a disappointing half for the Scousers.

But the Reds found themselves level four minutes into the second half. Kuyt beat Sol Campbell and his shot was deflected by Steve Taylor into the back of the net. The rejuvenated Reds almost took the lead but Torres headed straight to Krul and then failed to beat him in a one-on-one.

The match seemed to be heading for a draw before Joey Barton, a native Liverpudlian, struck from close range with ten minutes to go. And it was all over for Liverpool when Carroll capped off a wonderful match with a low drive that beat the Red’s keeper to give a victorious start to the new manager Alan Pardew.

The victory meant that Newcastle jumped to 8^th in the table while Liverpool, struggled in the absence of their skipper Gerrard slumped to their 6^th away defeat in 9 league games this season.

Tags: Andy Carroll, English Premier League, EPL, Football, Joey Barton, Kevin Nolan, Liverpool, Newcastle, St. James Park