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Monday, 19 January 2009
Tuesday, 30 December 2008
Toon torn to pieces by rampant Reds
Steven Gerrard bagged a brace as Liverpool laid down the Premier League title gauntlet with a ruthless 5-1 demolition of Newcastle on Sunday.
The England midfielder got the ball rolling with a 31st-minute opener and then after Sami Hyypia and Ryan Babel had struck either side of David Edgar's header, he completed the job with a 66th-minute second.
There was still time for substitute Xabi Alonso to convert a 76th-minute penalty after fellow newcomer David Ngog had been tripped by Edgar to complete a miserable afternoon for Joe Kinnear's injury-ravaged side, for whom goalkeeper Shay Given made seven remarkable saves.
Rafael Benitez, sitting in the stands at St James' Park, was even able to leave striker Robbie Keane on the bench and withdraw Gerrard to warm applause from both sets of fans as a crowd of 52,114, the biggest of the season, gained an insight into the Reds' title credentials.
The win left the Magpies in some disarray on the day owner Mike Ashley announced he would not be selling the club after all and is ready to press ahead with his masterplan once again.
On a day earmarked by the Newcastle supporters to pay tribute to former manager Sir Bobby Robson, the gulf between the side he created and the one on show today could hardly have been wider.
Writing in the match programme, Ashley said: "With the January transfer window approaching, we will be working closely with Joe to see what can be done to strengthen the squad.
In the space of four minutes, Given parried Dirk Kuyt's drive at the near post, blocked Gerrard's audacious flick and then pulled off a stunning one-handed save to deny the Reds skipper.
But his work was not done and he had twice thwarted Lucas by the time the clock ticked around to the 20-minute mark before keeping out Hyypia's 42nd-minute header with the help of N'Zogbia on the line.
However, by that point, he had been beaten twice as the rampant visitors finally made the pressure tell, Gerrard sweeping the ball home from Yossi Benayoun's 31st-minute cut-back before Hyypia headed home his captain's corner five minutes later.
Liverpool were simply irresistible, and a rout seemed on the cards.
But the Magpies rallied and after Taylor had headed a Danny Guthrie corner wide, Edgar proved the man for the big occasion once again.
Just short of two years ago, the Canadian marked his home debut with a stunning equaliser against Manchester United, and when he headed another Guthrie set-piece home in injury time his side at least had hope.
Jose Enrique, who had passed a fitness test on a calf injury just before kick-off, failed to re-appear after the break and Shola Ameobi's arrival prompted a reshuffle which saw N'Zogbia drop into the back four and Damien Duff move into midfield.
Ameobi almost made an immediate impact when Michael Owen only just failed to meet his 48th-minute cross with a diving header, but Liverpool's advantage was restored within two minutes.
Referee Mark Halsey was simply not interested in the home side's appeals for handball after Hyypia and then Lucas had helped on Gerrard's corner, and Babel stabbed the loose ball home to make it 3-1.
Kinnear's resources were stretched further with 56 minutes gone when Nicky Butt limped off to be replaced by Geremi, although the Cameroon international almost dragged his side back into the game on the hour.
After Owen had been cynically tripped by Javier Mascherano, he drove the resulting free-kick against the bar with goalkeeper Jose Reina beaten.
But if the game was not already over, the result was put beyond doubt with 24 minutes remaining when Gerrard ran on to Lucas' pass and lifted the ball nonchalantly over Given to make it 4-1.
Alonso made it five from the penalty spot after Edgar had tripped Ngog with 76 minutes gone, and although Guthrie and Taylor both went close, Given had to make a superb double stop to deny Lucas and then Babel at the death.
Gerrard remains in police custody
Premier League footballer Steven Gerrard remained in custody tonight after he was arrested over a nightclub brawl.
The Liverpool captain was one of six men held after a fight outside a late-night bar in Southport, Merseyside. The venue’s DJ, a 34-year-old local man, required hospital treatment after suffering facial injuries.
Gerrard, 28, was at the restaurant and bar - which turns into a nightclub - with friends to celebrate Liverpool’s 5-1 destruction of Newcastle United. After the game the Reds’ captain, who scored twice, hailed his table-topping side as the best he has played in. But several hours later he was apparently caught up in an altercation outside the Lounge Inn in Bold Street.
Police were called and arrested six men on suspicion of assault in nearby Lord Street.The town centre business remained shut today but evidence of a fight inside could be seen through the windows. Spots of blood were clearly visible on the floor, along with shards of broken glass.
Gerrard’s wife Alex Curran, 26, left a coffee shop close to the police station in Southport where the father of her two children was being questioned. She refused to answer reporters’ questions as she walked to her Bentley car and drove off towards Liverpool.
The sister of the Lounge Inn co-owner, Dario Curcillo, said the footballer was in the club to celebrate his team’s win over Newcastle United. She said: “As far as I know he comes here regularly and it was just a normal night at the bar. I don’t know anything about what happened last night.”
Gerrard has been capped by England 70 times and has captained his country on four occasions. He was made an MBE last year and received an honorary fellowship from Liverpool John Moores University. Liverpool’s next match is against Preston in the FA Cup on Saturday.
A police spokesman said: “Merseyside Police are investigating an assault that took place in the early hours of Monday December 29 on Bold Street in Southport.
“At around 2.30am this morning officers attended a disturbance at a licensed premises on Bold Street. “Six men were arrested on suspicion of section 20 assault on Lord Street. “The men, four aged 33, 31, 29 and 19, who all come from the Huyton area, a 28-year-old man from Formby and an 18-year-old man from Litherland remain in police custody. “A 34-year-old man from Southport was taken to hospital with facial injuries which are not believed to be life-threatening.”
A Liverpool spokesman said the club would not be commenting on their captain’s arrest.
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