Barclays Premiership - Match 35

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Season 2008-2009

LIVERPOOL

3 v 0

NEWCASTLE UNITED
  Yossi Benayoun 22
Dirk Kuyt 28
Lucas Leiva 87		    
     
  Date: Sunday 2nd May 2009
  Venue: Anfield
  Kick Off: 1:30pm (BST)
  Australian Live TV: Foxsports 1
  Attendance: 44,121
  Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)
  Read Match Preview  
   

Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Aurelio, Alonso (Lucas 80), Mascherano (Ngog 89), Benayoun, Gerrard, Riera (Babel 63), Kuyt

Subs Not Used: Cavalieri, Dossena, El Zhar, Skrtel
  Booked: None
   
Newcastle: Harper, Beye, Coloccini, Bassong, Duff, Smith, Butt, Martins (Owen 80), Barton, Lovenkrands (Gutierrez 46), Viduka (Nolan 80)

Subs Not Used: Krul, Guthrie, Edgar, Carroll
  Booked: Smith, Coloccini
Sent Off: Barton
     
 

Post Match Comments:
Newcastle manager Alan Shearer said:
"Did anyone really expect us to come here and get anything? I did. We did in the dressing room. Maybe our fans didn't but they came out again in their thousands.

Whether we had enough to come here and win is a doubt but we felt we could come here and get something out of the game.

Time is running out but we've still got two very important home games which will decide our fate, no doubt about that.

The game with Boro - whoever loses that will find it very difficult to come back. But I believe we will get something from our next two home games.

We were lucky to keep it down to three, how many times did they hit the bar?

I was disappointed with the manner of the goals. The first was offside and the second and third were from set-pieces. If you give players things to do at set-pieces and they do not pick up their man, it is very disappointing."

On the Kop singing "You should have stayed on the sofa” at him:
“I wondered if I should have laughed or cried, so I decided to laugh.

But our fate was not going to be decided here. This is a very difficult place to get anything. Our fate will be decided by our two home games with the next one against Middlesbrough probably the biggest game this club has had for a very long time.”

On Barton:
"He deserved to be sent off, he has let himself and the club down  - we will do what we have to do. 

He has apologised but it's been done and he is out for the rest of the season. He was not unlucky, the referee was spot-on. There was no need for him to do that in such a position."
Watch Alan Shearer speak after the match

Rafa said:
"There were a lot of positives from that victory. We could have scored more and we are closer again at the top and still pushing.

Manchester United are a good team with good players, and they will need to make two big mistakes to let us in. But I still believe they can be caught and they will make mistakes.

All we can do is to continue to win our matches and see how they handle pressure. We must win all our games to see how that effects them at the top.”
Watch Rafa Benitez speak after the match

  
     
  BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match:
Liverpool's Dirk Kuyt (7.99 on 90 minutes)		  
     
 

 
  Match Report:  
  With only three games left this season the Newcastle United players are quickly running out of excuses.

This game was never going to decide our fate, but the manner of the 3-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield smacked of a team who had ran out of hope and ideas.

After a booze filled afternoon and evening (watching Ricky Hatton and South Melbourne) even the haze of alcohol could not save me from the pain and torture endured watching this game.  Sofas were kicked, groans were expelled as my frustration levels grew and grew, all of which cumulated in the mindless sending off by Joey Barton which beggared belief.

Do these players really not care or is it the fact that they are so down on confidence that any level of ability they once had has deserted them?

Either way the vast majority of the players have proved this season that they are not fit to play for Newcastle United and a fire sale of the squad needs to happen in the summer, or next season will see more of the same as this.

First on the list would appear to be Joey Barton with news today (5th May) that the club has suspended him until further notice.

Despite all the doom and gloom there was positive news, defeats at the weekend for West Brom, Middlesbrough, sunderland, Hull and Blackburn means somehow we are still maybe only 6 points from safely. Hull and sunderland have 3 tricky games which they may not get another point from each.

Therefore, despite everything Newcastle still have their fate in their own hands. Victory next week at home to Middlesbrough could be the catalyst we need to get out of this mess.

Whether the players deserve this final chance is in doubt, but the fans certainly do. Their loud and vocal support was again second too none and is the only thing we can be proud about these days.

Keep the faith everyone! :-/
 		  
 

AUSSIE MAGS By Row 'S' Army