Filed under: Liverpool, Newcastle, Premier League, Football, Match Reports
Andy Carroll's first encounter against former club Newcastle United went to plan as Liverpool cruised past Alan Pardew's side in the Anfield sunshine.Carroll started on the bench and could only watch in admiration as his fellow forwards did all the damage as goals from Maxi Rodriguez, Dirk Kuyt and Luis Suarez put Liverpool 3-0 up before his late cameo.
He was booed mercilessly by Newcastle fans still unhappy about January's £35 million transfer to Anfield but that is hardly likely to bother him too much, particularly as this victory helped Liverpool leapfrog Tottenham into the Europa League qualifying spot.
Liverpool dominated possession early on and it did not take long for them to open the scoring when Rodriguez maintained his fine current form as he volleyed in from 10 yards out.
Mike Williamson's poor headed clearance landed at the Argentine's feet and he rifled past Tim Krul, courtesy of a slight deflection off Danny Simpson.
The goal followed the hat-trick he scored against Birmingham City last week as Liverpool's squad continues to play in a manner unrecognisable to the side managed by Roy Hodgson earlier this season.
The visitors matured as the half progressed but they still did little to trouble Liverpool's backline with Shola Ameobi and Kevin Nolan both failing to find the target as consistently as they would have liked.
Straight after the interval, Joey Barton had Newcastle's best chance to equalise when he was entirely unmarked at the back post but he sidefooted wide before a Suarez shot at the other end almost ended up going in after a huge deflection off Williamson.
It was not long though until Liverpool found their second, courtesy of some great vision from goalkeeper Pepe Reina and the hard work of Suarez.
Reina launched a huge kick downfield which Suarez chased and although his efforts appeared to be in vain, he brilliantly wrestled the ball from Williamson who then fouled him in the box and that allowed Kuyt to convert from 12 yards.
It then went from bad to worse for Newcastle as Suarez tapped in from close range following impressive work from Kuyt to get the goal that his astonishing work-rate and desire deserved.
No comments:
Post a Comment