Newcastle v Liverpool: Team News / Match Thread

[RedPuppy]

Cheers for clearing that up KK.

I still don't understand how we've ended up with a game in hand and Man Utd haven't.

And another point, we've only won 2 at home and drew 4?  Sounds really bizzare.

It was the Wed for the CL Quali, thats why Arsenal have a game in hand too.

[EddieC]

Great result, TBH Newcastle didn't turn up really, but you can only beat what's in front of you.

It's very hard to make any assessment of our keeper or defence as they had next to nothing to do all game, I do remember a couple of good bits of defensive play from Carra & Hyypia but I genuinely can't recall either fullback having to do one thing defensively. Going forward I feel both fullbacks could have offered a bit more, but on a day like today it didn't really make any difference.

Our midfield today just bossed absolutely everything, and right in the middle of it who else? Stevie Gerrard. He had a phenominal game today, and it should have helped get the pain of Wednesday night out of his head. Lucas looked promising, but TBH I'm not sure where these reports that he can play holding midfield have come from, he definitely looks a lot more comfortable going forward than defending. Kewell obviously isn't back to his best yet but had a good game for me, it's just a shame that I find myself breathing a sigh of relief after every game that he hasn't got injured. Sissoko was easily the worst of our midfielders, but to be fair he did get better as the game went on. I've always maintained that he shouldn't get a game without Alonso alongside him & I stick by that, so I won't be too critical of him today.

Up front Torres should have had a hatful. It's hard to be critical when he carved the opportunities for himself rather than being supplied them, but he lacks that clinical edge in front of goal. As someone else mentioned though he does drag defenders out of position and can create openings for others, but I would still like to see us sign a poacher style player at some point. Kuyt for me had a good game too, I know he gets slated a lot but he unsettles defences & I feel he would definitely be missed if we were to get rid of him like some have suggested.

Crouch & Riise weren't really on the pitch long enough to judge them, although I do recall one terrible bit of play by Riise just after he came on, he ran about 30 yards in the wrong direction with the ball just to play it back to where he'd been 5 seconds earlier & where there was blatantly not another Liverpool shirt. Babel though was absolutely awesome. Some people I feel were too quick to jump on his back when he had a slow start with us, but recently he seems to have found his feet a bit & we are now starting to see what he's all about.

After the press coverage the club has been having the last few days this is the best possible answer the boys could have given. It is also the first time I've predicted the score correctly this season, and I forgot to enter it in the prediction league!

[koolkidda]

Good post.  As I stated earlier I am not going to criticise Torres on his finishing when nearly all of his opportunites he carved for himself. When you even consider dropping players who create so many chances then you are on the slippery slope. 

Both him, and increasingly Babel, are looking really good signings now.

Another day and we could have had many more - but yet again the reds continued to go for the kill when previously we would have attempted to sit on a 2-0, even 1-0, away lead.

If we start punishing teams at home then this could be a really impressive season.

[The Fallen Soldier]

Good post.  As I stated earlier I am not going to criticise Torres on his finishing when nearly all of his opportunites he carved for himself. When you even consider dropping players who create so many chances then you are on the slippery slope. 

Both him, and increasingly Babel, are looking really good signings now.

Another day and we could have had many more - but yet again the reds continued to go for the kill when previously we would have attempted to sit on a 2-0, even 1-0, away lead.

If we start punishing teams at home then this could be a really impressive season.

Couldnt agree more to be honest. I would also like to add Im really happy for Stevie G and the way he put one over on those booing jordy cu*ts, I really am getting pissed off going to Newcastle as their "so called fans" seem to boo everything. They seem to have a boo boy culture they boo the ref they boo their manager they boo the opposition they boo their chairman, isnt it about time they grew up and started supporting their team instead of thinking they are really clever and just boooing. In fact im beginning to think that any NEwcastle season ticket holder who goes carol singing this xmas will in fact only be able to spout out the the 12 boos of christmas. I hope they  get f**king relgated this season on todays behavior against our captain bunch of no hopers that really got under my skin and Im glad Stevie shoved that down their throat.

[king kenny]

Lets just make sure that when they come to anfield we "nullify" them! 

[redkenny]

In fact im beginning to think that any NEwcastle season ticket holder who goes carol singing this xmas will in fact only be able to spout out the the 12 boos of christmas.

  Brilliant!

Indeed. I'm glad Stevie had a great game and walloped that brilliant free kick in to shove the boos back down their throats. I take pleasure in knowing that's all Newcastle could achieve today. Boos!

[koolkidda]

Thing is they still booed him when he went off.

Laughable really.  We often forgot that the majority of hardcore England supporters are made up of fans from sh*t teams who never win anything.  That's why Liverpool fans are never too bothered. 

Most Geordies probably know that the England team represents the only chance of them ever 'supporting' someone who might win something.

(Mind you that fireman did finish 2nd in Big Brother that year - they nearly did it then)

Just don't mention European Capital of Culture to them.

[JD]

Fantastic result and a decent performance.  Torres should have scored more but he created a lot of opportunites for himself.  If he hadn't have played we would have had half the chances we did.

I used to really have a lot of respect for the Newcastle fans.  What happened today with them? Have all 50,000 of them been replaced by an entirely new set of fans.

You let yourselves down there boys.

Anyway, back to the mighty reds - great to see Stevie G play so well - maybe we should start booing him every week at Anfield!

Hyypia played well too (not that he had much to do). He can clearly still do a job for us - just not two games a week.

[Nicola]

I felt bad for Torres, all those shots going wide This season he'll struggle I think and then next season he will be immense. (As long as he doesn't get injured!)

I love seeing Stevie's face after he scores, even when we were like 6-0 up at that Champs League game or something, still soo happy to score, full of passion.. lots of footballers missing that these days! Although he didn't look happy to be coming off, he never is. I think he understands though.. he must be exhausted. Can't beleive the Toon booed him, how pathetic  :

Ah well. Great game, great goals (Kuyt's was funny!), 3 points. BAM! 

[LondonRed]

In fact im beginning to think that any NEwcastle season ticket holder who goes carol singing this xmas will in fact only be able to spout out the the 12 boos of christmas.

 

[shikhark]

Great result and a good performance too.what made the day even better is that Manu lost

It was disappointing to see the crowd's reaction whenever Gerrard got the ball but I dont think you can point the finger at just the Newcastle fans.This happened in almost all the games today (Lampard,Barry,Carson also got similar reactions).I can understand their frustration and disappointment at not qualifying for Euro 2008 but that is not how you behave.

Big Sam is in a spot of bother (not that I care :p) ...

[RedWilly]

Never watched the game, had to go out, but from the match reports on it and the response on here it sounds like we played a good game again without hitting top-gear (correct me if im wrong!) Now with Xmas looming and were still in touching distance of the top, I really am starting to believe that this could be our season. Newcastle is never an easy place to go and to get a 0-3 win there is brill.

Now lets hope that fat f**ker Big Sam gets sacked!!

COME ON YOU REDS!!!

[smigger15]

Did anyone else notice Rafa in his new 'coaching role' ?  -  he was in trackies and trainees today   

[donrafael]

Good post.  As I stated earlier I am not going to criticise Torres on his finishing when nearly all of his opportunites he carved for himself. When you even consider dropping players who create so many chances then you are on the slippery slope. 

Both him, and increasingly Babel, are looking really good signings now.

Another day and we could have had many more - but yet again the reds continued to go for the kill when previously we would have attempted to sit on a 2-0, even 1-0, away lead.

If we start punishing teams at home then this could be a really impressive season.

Thing is they still booed him when he went off.

Laughable really.  We often forgot that the majority of hardcore England supporters are made up of fans from sh*t teams who never win anything.  That's why Liverpool fans are never too bothered. 

Most Geordies probably know that the England team represents the only chance of them ever 'supporting' someone who might win something.

(Mind you that fireman did finish 2nd in Big Brother that year - they nearly did it then)

Just don't mention European Capital of Culture to them.

Big Brother tv watcher - I see - now that explains a few things... thanks for that golden cultural nugget.

[donrafael]

Did anyone else notice Rafa in his new 'coaching role' ?  -  he was in trackies and trainees today  

Classic... thought it was very dry. Excellent.

Nice our away fans gave him so much verbal support today too.

[benforrest]

I think we are praising the strikers too much, we didn't conceed at St James' Park I think our defenders should be praised the most, they are the reason why they didn't get many chances, up againest Viduka and Martins that isn't easy, Hyypia and Carra in the central defense were brilliant, no doubt Agger will get back in the team but if Hyypia plays like this for weeks to come it won't be as easy for Agger, as he would of liked.

[donrafael]

I think we are praising the strikers too much, we didn't conceed at St James' Park I think our defenders should be praised the most, they are the reason why they didn't get many chances, up againest Viduka and Martins that isn't easy, Hyypia and Carra in the central defense were brilliant, no doubt Agger will get back in the team but if Hyypia plays like this for weeks to come it won't be as easy for Agger, as he would of liked.

Good point - 6 goals against this season to date (equal lowest) is something to be very proud of given that most of the back four, if not all of them, have had periods of injury.

[AJ]

Great result today especially without a full strength squad showing that we can still get the results.  I think everyone had a good game today and it's nice to see Kewell back in the starting 11 he is looking really sharp at the moment.  I would like to point out though that Sissoko looked tired and as if he was not at full fitness the way he was tackling but he improved late on so I'll let it go this time I'm surprised Benitez picked Sissoko with Lucas to start anyway leaving Kewell on the left and Gerrard on the right respectively then it sticking Kewell on the right ??  Gerrard's goal was top sh*t and unstoppable to any keeper he deserved man of the match but it did make me chuckle when Newcastle announced their man of the match as Alan Smith for getting their best shot @ goal!

Did anyone else notice Rafa in his new 'coaching role' ?  -  he was in trackies and trainees today  

I think he's on to something there smiggs

P.S. don't you just love it when the opposition fans start going home early when it's thier ground, we should have applied for more tickets!!

[kelv78]

Excellent performance from us I really could have and should have been more,nice to see Stevie play a blinder after the dissapointment with England,dont really understand why the geordies were booing him I would have thought they had more problems to worry about like 1 point out of 12 for them.

[Crazy Horse]

This was the best away day of the season so far. The day started well and by 8.30am the lager was flowing! All the Lads were up for a good day on the ale and the Reds responded in fine style. True The Bar Codes were poor but they are no mugs and still had some quality in their side, I think it was the Reds movement that they couldn't live with. Gerrard, Torres, Kuyt, Kewell and then Babel were out standing and if Torres finishing was up to the standard of his movement, well we could of really embarrassed the Fat Fella! I was disappointed with the Bar Codes Booing Gerrard, like they thought that would have any impact on the Lads performance! I feel that if they can't appreciate Players from my team when they play for the National side they don't deserve to associate themselves with any team that can sport such talent. They have short memories, they weren't booing when Liverpool, sorry I mean Ingerland beat Germany 5-1 were they? We dismissed their booing with the always funny chant "we're not English we are Scouse". As the goals flowed the ever fickle Bar Codes laid into Fat Sam. We enjoyed this and the "Fat Sam for England" Chant made me laugh. This was only surpassed as the Bar Codes slipped into total disarray and the Chant turned to "Fat Sam for Santa"! Scousers eh! After the final whistle we made our way to the city center were we enjoyed copious amounts of ale and song and I have to say the locals we good sports and had a laugh with us with out any signs of a bad atmosphere or any trouble. At 6pm the local lap dancers opened and welcomed the early evening business that 15 pissed up hairy arse Scousers bring following a Reds away win! We filled the bus full of ale and left Gordie land at 8pm. Totally knackered and quite the worse for wear I was tucked up in bed for midnight! Nico even scored the goal that beat the Mancs for us, Saturday was certainly a good day to be a Red!

[smigger15]

This was the best away day of the season so far. The day started well and by 8.30am the lager was flowing! All the Lads were up for a good day on the ale and the Reds responded in fine style. True The Bar Codes were poor but they are no mugs and still had some quality in their side, I think it was the Reds movement that they couldn't live with. Gerrard, Torres, Kuyt, Kewell and then Babel were out standing and if Torres finishing was up to the standard of his movement, well we could of really embarrassed the Fat Fella! I was disappointed with the Bar Codes Booing Gerrard, like they thought that would have any impact on the Lads performance! I feel that if they can't appreciate Players from my team when they play for the National side they don't deserve to associate themselves with any team that can sport such talent. They have short memories, they weren't booing when Liverpool, sorry I mean Ingerland beat Germany 5-1 were they? We dismissed their booing with the always funny chant "we're not English we are Scouse". As the goals flowed the ever fickle Bar Codes laid into Fat Sam. We enjoyed this and the "Fat Sam for England" Chant made me laugh. This was only surpassed as the Bar Codes slipped into total disarray and the Chant turned to "Fat Sam for Santa"! Scousers eh! After the final whistle we made our way to the city center were we enjoyed copious amounts of ale and song and I have to say the locals we good sports and had a laugh with us with out any signs of a bad atmosphere or any trouble. At 6pm the local lap dancers opened and welcomed the early evening business that 15 pissed up hairy arse Scousers bring following a Reds away win! We filled the bus full of ale and left Gordie land at 8pm. Totally knackered and quite the worse for wear I was tucked up in bed for midnight! Nico even scored the goal that beat the Mancs for us, Saturday was certainly a good day to be a Red!

Glad you had such a good day Mr Horse    'Fat Sam for Santa' - classic 

[Istvan Kozma]

This was the best away day of the season so far. The day started well and by 8.30am the lager was flowing! All the Lads were up for a good day on the ale and the Reds responded in fine style. True The Bar Codes were poor but they are no mugs and still had some quality in their side, I think it was the Reds movement that they couldn't live with. Gerrard, Torres, Kuyt, Kewell and then Babel were out standing and if Torres finishing was up to the standard of his movement, well we could of really embarrassed the Fat Fella! I was disappointed with the Bar Codes Booing Gerrard, like they thought that would have any impact on the Lads performance! I feel that if they can't appreciate Players from my team when they play for the National side they don't deserve to associate themselves with any team that can sport such talent. They have short memories, they weren't booing when Liverpool, sorry I mean Ingerland beat Germany 5-1 were they? We dismissed their booing with the always funny chant "we're not English we are Scouse". As the goals flowed the ever fickle Bar Codes laid into Fat Sam. We enjoyed this and the "Fat Sam for England" Chant made me laugh. This was only surpassed as the Bar Codes slipped into total disarray and the Chant turned to "Fat Sam for Santa"! Scousers eh! After the final whistle we made our way to the city center were we enjoyed copious amounts of ale and song and I have to say the locals we good sports and had a laugh with us with out any signs of a bad atmosphere or any trouble. At 6pm the local lap dancers opened and welcomed the early evening business that 15 pissed up hairy arse Scousers bring following a Reds away win! We filled the bus full of ale and left Gordie land at 8pm. Totally knackered and quite the worse for wear I was tucked up in bed for midnight! Nico even scored the goal that beat the Mancs for us, Saturday was certainly a good day to be a Red!

Haha Quality!  I was delighted with the performance, and Big Fat Sam's side were lucky not to go down to an eight nil scoreline.  I didn't even feel slightly sorry for Allardyce when the Newcastle fans turned on him.  Maybe he hasn't been in the job long enough to deserve that kind of a back lash but due to some of the comments he has made in the past I'll agree with the majority of the Newcastle fans!
Allardyce has made comments such as, 'Benitez doesn't like me because my Bolton side beat them using a physical approach.. I'd rather have a manager moaning and groaning about the way I beat them rather than how well we played and what an attractive game we made it losing 3-0 or 3-1 which is what they want me to do... they won't get that from me!'
And on Saturday Liverpool didn't, because Newcastle were neither atttactive or physical, but simply outplayed.  Allardyce did a good job at Bolton, there is no doubt about that, but Newcastle is a place where his overall credentials as a Manager will be put to the ultimate test, and in my opinion, he doesn't have what it takes, and I said that before the game on Saturday. I have no respect for a man who is so big headed (in every way), and narrow minded that he can make a ridiculous comment like the one made about Benitez being sacked for not winning the Premiership!

[AussieRed]

Great win, fantastic goals from Stevie and Ryan...should have been 8, 9 or even 10 nil but still happy with 3. Don't worry Fernando the way you created opportunities, I'm sure another hatrick is very close....if not the Porto game them definitely the Bolton game.


Just loved it when (and they showed it heaps of times) Fat Sam substituted N'Zogbia for Milner and the two guys stood up behind him and yelled "you don't know what you're doing"...had me in stitches. Great supporters those fukcin Geordies.