Reds v Newcastle ratings

[Shaggy]

Reina - Another spillage but otherwise **** all to do and a clean sheet. 7

Finnan - Better and a good assist. We need more of that. 7

Carragher - Full blooded; getting back to his best. 7

Agger - Tested physically at times by Ameobi, but he came through again. 7

Aurelio - Frustrating first half, better second half. Great consistency with free-kicks, on target more often than not. 7

Gerrard - Quiet again I thought, pleasing that we can play well and win without the need for his heroics. 6

Sissoko - Erratic on the ball...I thought he was over that. 6

Alonso - What can you say about the maestro? Beautiful ball for the first, nice strike for the second. 9

Garcia - Much much better from Luis. Lively and a threat all evening, should get a run in the side. 8

Kuyt - Should really have had a hat-trick but I'm loving this lad already. All action, he's gonna be a Kop favourite. 8

Bellamy - Yet another frustrating display from the Welshman. Bench duty beckons. 6

[Bob]

Spot on - wouldn't have complained if you gave Bellamy 5, but i understand the needs of the Welsh Clique Good summary BTW.

[murder_inc]

good performance tonight i thought from everyone

[Howard_lfc]

Gerrard - Quiet again I thought, pleasing that we can play well and win without the need for his heroics. 6

I thought his head was down to be honest. Didn't really get about the pitch like he normally does.

[Maestro]

Good work Shaggy...thought you were slightly harsh on Gerrard and generous to Aurelio, but otherwise top summarising!

[dww]

I'm hoping the improved performance and goal from Alonso starts a good run. I think a major factor in our dissappointing start has been his poor form.

[blacky]

A goal for Bellers against Spurs and he will settle down

[iseeredpeople]

Aurelio - Frustrating first half, better second half. Great consistency with free-kicks, on target more often than not. 7

Garcia - Much much better from Luis. Lively and a threat all evening, should get a run in the side. 8

Agree with everything except these two.

Aurelio was piss poor, he really needs to contribute more, even if his free-kicks are excellent. I'm feeling generous though, so he gets a 6.

Garcia and Alonso have to share the MOTM if I get to decide - they both get a 9

[StevieGnR]

Agree with that summary Shaggy

[carheex]

Reina - Another spillage but otherwise **** all to do and a clean sheet. 7

Finnan - Better and a good assist. We need more of that. 7

Carragher - Full blooded; getting back to his best. 7

Agger - Tested physically at times by Ameobi, but he came through again. 7

Aurelio - Frustrating first half, better second half. Great consistency with free-kicks, on target more often than not. 7

Gerrard - Quiet again I thought, pleasing that we can play well and win without the need for his heroics. 6

Sissoko - Erratic on the ball...I thought he was over that. 6

Alonso - What can you say about the maestro? Beautiful ball for the first, nice strike for the second. 9

Garcia - Much much better from Luis. Lively and a threat all evening, should get a run in the side. 8

Kuyt - Should really have had a hat-trick but I'm loving this lad already. All action, he's gonna be a Kop favourite. 8

Bellamy - Yet another frustrating display from the Welshman. Bench duty beckons. 6

Reina - 6
Finnan - 7
Agger - 7.5
Carragher - 6
Aurelio - 7.5
Garcia - 8
Gerrard - 6
Sissoko - 6
Alonso - 8.5
Kuyt - 8
Bellamy - 5

[Shaggy]

Here's Bascombe's match report...complete with a quality old gag at the end.

Liverpool 2, Newcastle 0 (Echo)

Sep 21 2006

By Chris Bascombe


XABI ALONSO'S latest wonder strike provided a useful metaphor for those belittling Liverpool's title pretensions.

No matter how far back you seem, when you're blessed with class, anything is possible.

Liverpool may require a combined effort equally spectacular if they're to fully remedy their early setbacks,but they couldn't have wished foramore comfortable evening to re-assert their credentials.

A thorough performance in every department, the Reds finally found the reward recent performances deserved.

And with key men re-discovering their form,any lingering anxiety heading into this game swiftly disappeared.

When confidence is low, goals are scarce, and a fillip is required, Newcastle arefirst pick on list of most anticipated home fixtures.

The Geordies rarely refuse to squeeze those bellies through the turnstiles, and never fail to leave 90 minutes later having seen a completely different game to the rest of the football world.

Glenn Roeder thought his side unlucky not to claim something from the game, arguing deputy keeper Steve Harper didn't have many shots to save.

A more accurate way of putting it was Harper didn't save many shots, as Dirk Kuyt and Alonso secured the points, while the Dutchman and Craig Bellamy put a couple of sitters wide and Luis Garcia rattled the bar.

Five-nil would not have flattered Liverpool, while Newcastle's efforts amounted to a trio of penalty claims in the first ten minutes of the second half, none of which compared favourably with Celestine Babayaro's unpunished attempt to catch the ball in front of The Kop.

Liverpool have been threatening to dish out a severe beating. Newcastle only avoided that fate thanks to generous finishing and the absence of Titus Bramble.

Rafa Benitez has assembled a side of strength, power and pace, and, as we sawlast year,when the elements combine properly they can overwhelm opponents.

Midway through the first half, you could sense the momentum build as Newcastle struggled to get beyond their own half.

Bellamy and Kuyt had already forced Harper into saves his manager would later forget, before Alonso's perfect through ball to Finnan allowed him to hand the Dutch forward the platform to demonstrate his poaching skills.

Newcastle claimed they'd'stepped aside' to allow Kuyt to move to Anfield in the summer, with Roeder suggesting he didn't rate him at £9m.

They paid £10m for Obafemi Martins instead, and few will argue with such wisdom on the basis of last night, apart from the fact the Liverpool man scored and played well, and the Newcastle forward did neither.

Kuyt finished a brilliantly constructed move, rewarding the patient passing approach whichwas a feature of the first half.

At the heart of this was the revitalised Alonso, who'd been below his usual standards prior to the trip to Stamford Bridge, but now appears to have re-discovered his passing range and speed.

When least effective, Alonso's passing is slow, safe and negative.

Fortunately, when he's playing like this, the penetration returns, and there's a zip to his deliveries which keeps Liverpool moving forward and defences pinned back.

As if to underline the welcome return of his confidence, Alonso provided an action replay of his Luton Town strike last January, scoring from deep in his own half.

The midfielder has tried this so often, the only one surprised by the audacity of his attempt was Harper, who lost balance as he was caught off his line.

Liverpool's second was timely, as Newcastle remained in the hunt for a point until the 80th minute due to the latest in the series of missed chances.

Bellamy fluffed the best of the lot when aricochet off StevenGerrard sent him scurrying clear and his delicate chip was agonisingly wide.

The Welshman is getting little reward for his overall contribution. One of the most telling images of the night was Bellamy closing down Babayaro deep into injury time.

This fella's work rate is already winning him friends,and he kept acool head despite predictable abuse from the visiting section and, latterly, the Newcastle coaching staff who taunted him as he left the pitch.

No doubt the striker would prefer goals rather than plaudits, but they're bound to start flowing soon.

Of greater importance is the flourishing of his partnership with Kuyt, which once again looked highly promising.

Both benefited from the inclusion of the Anfield luxury man, Garcia, who shines in home fixtures such as this, particularly when he's on the ball so often.

The crafty Spaniard made things happen all night, and the manner he controlled and instantly volleyed a Gerrard pass would have rivalled Alonso's strike but for the woodwo rk .

There were a couple of anxious moments at the back after the break, notably when the otherwise impeccable Daniel Agger lunged recklessly at the feet of Shola Ameobi.

But Newcastle possessed little threat and a second goal was inevitable, even if the manner of it rare.

Liverpool have now collected as many points after five games than they managed after six last season, when they still reached their highest points tally since 1990.

Benitez and his players still won'tbeyearning foralong glance at the league table, but this win was preciselywhat was required to plant the shoots of recovery.

There's nothing wrong with this Liverpool team, and the evidence supporting the view they can't mount a serious Premiership challenge remains as flimsy as a Panorama documentary.

As for Xabi, sadly, it's can be confirmed today he's not scored the longest goal Anfield has ever seen. After all, as someone reminded us at the end, back in the sixties Ian St John once scored from Hunt's cross.

LIVERPOOL: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Agger, F Aurelio, S Luis Garcia, X Alonso, Sissoko, Gerrard (Gonzalez 85), BellamY, Kuyt (Crouch 82). Subs: J Dudek, Hyypia, Warnock.

BOOKING: Garcia.

NEWCASTLE: Harper , Carr, Ramage, Moore, Babayaro, Milner (N'Zogbia 68), Parker, Emre, Duff , Martins (Rossi 76), Ameobi (Sibierski 82) Subs: Krul, N Butt.

BOOKING: Moore

REF: Mark Halsey (Lancashire)

ATT: 43,754

[Maestro]

This part is quality:

The Geordies rarely refuse to squeeze those bellies through the turnstiles, and never fail to leave 90 minutes later having seen a completely different game to the rest of the football world.

Glenn Roeder thought his side unlucky not to claim something from the game, arguing deputy keeper Steve Harper didn't have many shots to save.

A more accurate way of putting it was Harper didn't save many shots, as Dirk Kuyt and Alonso secured the points, while the Dutchman and Craig Bellamy put a couple of sitters wide and Luis Garcia rattled the bar.

Five-nil would not have flattered Liverpool, while Newcastle's efforts amounted to a trio of penalty claims in the first ten minutes of the second half, none of which compared favourably with Celestine Babayaro's unpunished attempt to catch the ball in front of The Kop.

Liverpool have been threatening to dish out a severe beating. Newcastle only avoided that fate thanks to generous finishing and the absence of Titus Bramble.

[Graybach]

Didn't see any of the match. Curious to know if Alonso played well all game and his form is coming back? Or was it just the pas and wondergoal that sticks out?

[Shaggy]

Well I thought he ran the show.

[Cantankerous]

It was role reversal time last night. Gerrard was completely off his game and Xabi had rediscovered his. As Shaggy said, Alonso ran the match for us last night, despite what Brian Marwood may or may not think.

Got to say though, that Newcastle's midfield was poor, as apart from Scott Parker, none of them wanted to compete and if that is what Damien Duff is going to deliver for Newcastle then thank god we didn't sign him.