Bellamy brace sinks Toon: Liverpool 3 Newcastle United 1 match report
Posted on December 31st, 2011 | 32 Comments |
First Half
The first 10 mins saw United getting plenty of the ball without actually threatening the Liverpool goal. As expected, Mike Williamson got the job of marking Carroll. I was going to say “Williamson was preferred to Perch” but I thought better of it.
Both teams were taking a while to settle and the first bit of excitement came in the 11th minute when Downing hit the ball against Ryan Taylor’s hand. There was a shout from the Kop for handball rather than the Liverpool players, but there was nothing doing from the referee.
After a quarter of an hour we saw a dangerous cross from Enrique – cue the chant from the Geordie faithful “you’re just a s**t Ryan Taylor!” I’m sure they both saw the funny side.
On 18 minutes the Referee appeared to tackle Obertan and set up Charlie Adam for a shot. It would have been fun and games if that had gone in. Can referees be credited with an “assist”? Oh yes, Howard Webb and Manchester United – enough said!
Downing was getting the better of Taylor far too easily and as a result was looking like Liverpool’s most dangerous outlet.
But it was who the Magpies who took the lead in the 25th minutes. A cross flicked on by Cabaye seemed to hit Demba Ba and went in. The PA system gave it to Ba but TV replays seen from my comfy chair actually suggested it might have gone in off Agger’s Arm. Jamie Redknapp in the Sky studio gave it to Cabaye. Either way it was a goal for United and the Geordie fans were bouncing, for now. Liverpool 0 Newcastle United 1
Sadly, the joy lasted only 5 minutes. Adam crossed a low one into the area from the right, it bounced out off Tiote to the unmarked Bellamy, who then proceeded to bury it in the bottom left-hand corner of Tim Krul’s goal from about 15 yards out. If Williamson had stayed where he was instead of moving to his left he would have blocked it, but that’s just the way it goes sometimes. Liverpool 1 Newcastle United 1
On 35 minutes Downing passed Taylor easily again, Taylor just grabbed him and held him. Yellow card. However, with a few minutes left to half time there was some great defending by Taylor, who made a crucial interception to prevent Downing putting Bellamy through on goal with only Krul to beat.
The first half ended in the 3rd minute of extra time with United on the attack and a long range shot from Cabaye.
Second Half
For the second half, Davide Santon was sent on in place of Taylor at the start – Alan Pardew obviouly deciding we needed to try harder at keeping Downing quiet. The young Maldini then proceeded to tackle Downing, giving away a free kick near the Newcastle corner. From the free-kick, Liverpool chose to “stand one up” for Andy Carroll who shoved Williamson in the back. Another free kick.
With half an hour to go Steven Gerrard came on for Charlie Adam. That’s never good news as Gerrard always seems to do well against us. He started to have an impact almost immediately with a good cross from the right setting it up for Carroll. However Mike Williamson got in front of him and dealt with the situation.
Ben Arfa was then brought on in place of young Haris Vuckic after 64 minutes.
Tiote was penalised for what looked like a perfectly good tackle outside the area. The free kick was taken by Bellamy, over the wall, and just over Carroll’s head. Simpson and Krul both went for it and got touches but it carried on into the net. Pardew called it “a bit sloppy” in his interview after the game. Liverpool 2 Newcastle United 1
There was almost an equaliser for the Magpies in the 71st minute though when Demba Ba almost beat everyone with a lovely dinked effort. The ball rolled teasingly towards for the empty net for what seemed like an eternity, but, sadly, the pace just wasn’t quite enough and Skrtel managed to get back and clear it just before it crossed the line. He ended up in the back of the net holding his back in agony but was able to carry on after treatment.
On 72 mins that man, Steven Gerrard, crossed it onto Carroll’s head and the Bensham Bomber hit the bar – that was the closest Agent Carroll got to scoring against his beloved United all night. Well done Andy lad!
Another substitution then came and went after Bellamy tried to assault Coloccini’s elbow with his head, cutting his eye in the process. Sadly, the double goal scoring mini menace had to go off. However, they still had the considerable talent of Dirk Kuyt waiting in the wings so he came on to replace the Welsh golf enthusiast.
On 77 mins some bloke from the wrong side of the tracks called Henderson picked up a diagonal pass from Jay Spearing, who in turn slipped it to Gerrard. The Whiston Whirlwind then taking the ball into the area, eventually tucking it under Krul, and into the back of the net from a tight angle to complete the Geordies’ misery. Liverpool 3 Newcastle United 1
All that remained was for Obertan to be subsututed with Sameobi after 84 mins, but he had little impact. And that was that.
Sky gave Man of the match to Gerrard and there is no doubt he made an impact as sub. Prior to his introduction, the Liverpool crowd had been relatively quiet and the team seemed a little lacking in confidence on the back of many home draws this season. But Gerrard’s introduction seemed to lift everything and we were always going to have to work harder after that.
20 minute match highlights and post match interviews with Alan Pardew and Kenny Dalglish
Teams and stats
Goals: Daniel Agger (O.G. 25), Craig Bellamy (30, 68), Steven Gerrard (78).
Liverpool: Pepe Reina (G), Glen Johnson, Martin Skrtel, Daniel Agger, Jose Enrique, Jordan Henderson, Jay Spearing, Charlie Adam (Stephen Gerrard 60), Stuart Downing, Andrew Carroll, Craig Bellamy (Dirk Kuyt 74).
Subs: Alexander Doni, Steven Gerrard, Maxi Rodriguez, Dirk Kuyt, Jamie Carragher, Johnjo Shelvey, Martin Kelly.
Newcastle United: Tim Krul (G), Danny Simpson, Mike Williamson, Fabricio Coloccini (C), Ryan Taylor (Santon 45), Obertan (Sammy Ameobi 85), Cheick Tiote, Yohan Cabaye, Jonas Gutierrez, Haris Vuckic (Hatem Ben Arfa 65), Demba Ba.
Subs: Elliot, Santon, Ben Arfa, Perch, Best, Shola Ameobi, Sammy Ameobi.
Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire)
Yellow cards: Jonas Gutierrez (28), Ryan Taylor (36).
Red cards: None.
Possession: Liverpool 51.4%, Newcastle United 48.6%
NUFCBlog Author: UTD111
UTD111 has written 59 articles on this blog.
Great stuff UTD111! You really have done a cracking job covering all these Christmas matches. Some kind of virtual round of applause is due.