Reds see off Newcastle

Jamie Carragher challenges Newcastle's Laurent Robert

Newcastle 0-2 Liverpool

Goals from John Arne Riise and Danny Murphy were enough to give Liverpool a vital victory at St James' Park.

Although Newcastle enjoyed more possession and dominated the corner count, it was the Reds who worked harder.

Meetings between these two teams have been among the most eagerly anticipated in the Premiership calendar - with memories of two famous 4-3 Liverpool wins in the 1990s still vivid.

It was a strong, solid, professional performance on the back of the Kiev game

Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier

But the latest installment failed to produce the fireworks that the fans have come to expect, as the visitors secured a surprisingly comfortable victory.

They scored at the start and finish of the match, with Newcastle unable to offer much in the way of a threat in between times.

Liverpool got off to the perfect start, going ahead after three minutes in their first attack of the game.

Rob Lee's pass to Andy Griffin on the edge of his own penalty area was woefully short.

Nikos Dabizas gets above Emile Heskey

The Norwegian Riise quickly capitalised, playing the ball through Griffin's legs to smash the ball past Shay Given for his third goal of the season.

Newcastle went close to an equaliser on 17 minutes after Shearer dummied Robbie Elliott's probing cross, but Craig Bellamy's header fell nicely for Jerzy Dudek.

Fowler return

Liverpool almost claimed a second three minutes later when the returning Robbie Fowler raced through, beating the offside trap after McAllister fed Riise.

But Given raced from his line to make a crucial save.

Fowler found the net just after the break following a mistake by Andy Griffin. But the striker, recalled to the side in favour of Jari Litmanen, was ruled offside.

I used all my bullets - I didn't have another bullet left

Newcastle manager Bobby Robson

Liverpool worked tirelessly to deny Newcastle and the Magpies grew increasingly frustrated as the game went on.

They did give Liverpool a couple of worrying moments.

Late on, substitute Shola Ameobi did all the hard work crossing for Bellamy who pulled the ball back but Sami Hyypia got in a vital clearance.

But Liverpool made the points safe five minutes from time when Danny Murphy broke through from his own half, played a neat one-two with Fowler and dispatched the ball past Given.

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Newcastle: Given, Griffin, O'Brien, Dabizas, Elliott, Solano, Lee, Acuna, Robert, Shearer, Bellamy. Subs: Speed, Harper, Lua-Lua, Ameobi, Distin.

Liverpool: Dudek, Vignal, Hyypia, Henchoz, Carragher, Biscan, McAllister, Murphy, Riise, Heskey, Fowler. Subs: Redknapp, Barmby, Kirkland, Wright, Litmanen.

Referee: G Barber (Tring)