Liverpool masterclass sinks Magpies

Liverpool 2 Newcastle 0

Michael Owen spent most of his homecoming watching the team he left produce a display of crushing efficiency.

Owen barely got a kick against Jamie Carragher, and had plenty of time to view how effective his former club have become.

It was not all his fault because the service to Newcastle’s front men was non-existent as they fought to contain a Liverpool side who dominated for long spells.

Their task was not helped by Lee Bowyer’s second-half red card, but by then Steve Gerrard had crashed home his 12th of the season and Peter Crouch had seen a towering header touched onto the post by Shay Given, only for the ball to rebound in off the Newcastle keeper.

No doubt the dubious goals panel will have a look at this effort but he probably will not be too concerned as Liverpool marched on to their eighth successive league win without conceding a goal.

With Mohamed Sissoko suspended and Stephen Warnock rested to the bench, Liverpool made just two changes from the side that lost the World Club Championship final in Japan against Sao Paulo, John Arne Riise and Crouch returning to the starting line-up.

Newcastle had a clutch of injured stars returning. Celestine Babayaro (groin), Steven Taylor (shoulder) and Charles N’Zogbia (hand) all returned to the side.

It meant Bowyer and Albert Luque started a match that saw Owen make his first return to the club he joined as a nine-year-old, having moved to Real Madrid 18 months ago and then the Geordies in the summer.

Owen’s name produced some regulation booing on the Kop when it was announced, but nothing more. Not the ovation many had predicted.

Liverpool dominated early on and Given produced a stunning one-handed block when Harry Kewell lashed a Crouch knockdown goalwards from six yards.

The first time Owen got near the Kop, for a corner, the Anfield crowd responded with “where were you in Istanbul?” as their one-time hero trotted away.

Liverpool’s drive brought them a 14th-minute goal from Gerrard. Luis Garcia lifted the ball in from the right, Crouch touch it into Gerrard’s path and the Anfield skipper surged between two defenders before blasting the ball high into the net.

Newcastle were under intense pressure in midfield, trying to win possession, and then suffered the worrying loss of Taylor. He had suffered a setback in training recently recovering from a dislocated shoulder, and he was helped from the field clearly with more problems from the injury, Titus Bramble taking over on 28 minutes.

Newcastle were on the back foot frequently, but when they broke there was always danger and N’Zogbia forced Reina into a fumbled save with a fierce 30-yarder.

Liverpool deserved more for their dominance, and they hit Newcastle with a sucker punch on 43 minutes when Crouch climbed to meet a Harry Kewell cross and saw Given touch the ball onto the post, only for the ball to rebound in off the Newcastle keeper.

Newcastle brought on Nobby Solano for N’Zogbia at the break, but it did not halt the Liverpool flow.

On 50 minutes Fernando Morientes powered a header goalwards from a corner, it hit Solano on the line, but referee Mark Halsey waved away appeals for handball.

Alan Shearer saw a shot charged down by Sami Hyypia, but at the other end Luis Garcia fractionally missed connecting with a Gerrard free-kick in front of goal.

The game erupted on 66 minutes when Bowyer produced a bad foul on Xabi Alonso, having looked to have been fouled himself seconds earlier by Morientes. Crouch pushed Bowyer to the ground and players from both sides rushed to the flashpoint.

Referee Mark Halsey eventually sent off Bowyer and showed Crouch a yellow card, but the big striker could easily have been red-carded himself.

Liverpool brought on Florent Sinama-Pongolle and Djibril Cisse for Kewell and Crouch, some of the tiredness from their trip to Japan beginning to show.

Newcastle, to their credit, kept coming forward but were getting little change out of Jamie Carragher and his back line, and Liverpool indulged themselves with party pieces in the final minutes.