Football Update: EPL review- Newcastle thump Liverpool 3-1 (Part 2)
Liverpool pegged back after the break, Alan Pardew side were very unlucky to concede the equaliser. A hoisted through-ball hit a back-pedalling Sol Campbell and dropped into the path of Dirk Kuyt, who surged into the area before letting fly with a shot that
took a huge deflection off Steven Taylor and rolled agonisingly past Tim Krul and into the opposite corner of the net.
Liverpool should have been ahead as they had couple of decent chances in quick succession. Firstly, Dirk Kuyt cross found David Ngog completely unmarked inside the penalty area but made a hash of his header and it bounced well wide. Then, Newcastle defence
was nowhere to be seen as Fernando Torres ran on to a quickly-taken free-kick, but he directed his shot straight at Tim Krul.
Nile Ranger, who came on to replace Shola Ameobi, brushed aside Martin Skrtel but fired wide with only Pepe Reina to beat after Andy Carroll's flick-on. Nile Ranger was certainly giving the Liverpool defence something to think about. He jostled with Sotiros
Kyrgiakos and then Martin Skrtel on the edge of the Reds area before being penalised by referee Lee Mason.
Liverpool's goal changed the mood around St. James' Park - but Newcastle started to gather themselves again after Dirk Kuyt's somewhat fortunate equaliser. Crowd was still very much behind the team - with the odd insulting nod towards Mike Ashley.
It was a scrappy goal but Alan Pardew will take anything, because the Magpies were back in front with ten minutes remaining. Andy Carroll, who was superb in the air, flicked on Tim Krul's clearance and, with Nile Ranger doing enough to put off the Liverpool
defence, Joey Barton darted in to nudge the bouncing ball past the onrushing Pepe Reina and into the net, via the far post.
There were all smiles from Newcastle owner Mike Ashley in the stands, while Alan Pardew made more notes on the touchline. No idea what he was writing but it is probably along the lines of 'remember to pick Andy Carroll, Joey Barton and Kevin Nolan again
next week'.
Newcastle wrapped things up in stoppage time to rub misery on Roy Hodgson’s side. The tricky trio all had a goal to show for their night's work and it was the Magpies very own 'Hotshot Hamish' who was the latest to find the target. The Liverpool defence
backed off Andy Carroll and, from 25 yards out, he took up the invitation to shoot by hammering a net-buster past Pepe Reina.
Let's give credit to Chris Hughton too, though, because this was very much his Magpies side, and their three goals came in similar style to the way they have all season.
Meanwhile, Man of the match Joey Barton dedicated this win to former manager Chris Hughton,
“We were all disappointed to lose Chris. It's a shame but we have got a fantastic dressing room and we all care each other a lot. Today was more about the players, we spoke about it beforehand. We have shown we are together and we got the three points we
desperately needed”.
Final Score: Newcastle United 3 Liverpool FC 1
Team Line-up
Newcastle: Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Campbell, Jose Enrique, Barton (Routledge 90), Nolan (Smith 87), Tiote, Gutierrez, Carroll, Ameobi (Ranger 63).
Subs Not Used: Harper, Guthrie, Lovenkrands, Perch.
Booked: Gutierrez, Tiote.
Goals: Nolan 15, Barton 80, Carroll 90.
Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Kyrgiakos, Skrtel, Konchesky, Kuyt, Meireles, Lucas, Maxi (Jovanovic 85), Torres, Ngog (Babel 72).
Subs Not Used: Jones, Aurelio, Cole, Poulsen, Kelly.
Booked: Johnson.
Goal: Kuyt 49.
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