Kenny: It wasn’t easy

LIVERPOOL manager Kenny Dalglish was pleased his side overcame the “Andy Carroll factor” in dispatching the striker’s former club 3-0 at Anfield.

All the pre-match build-up had centred on the £35million club record signing, who left St James’ Park in acrimonious circumstances in January, facing the Magpies for the first time.

However, he only made a 20-minute substitute appearance having recovered from the knee injury which kept him out of last week’s win over Birmingham — although he was targeted for abuse from the travelling fans all afternoon.