Liverpool 3 – 0 Newcastle
Liverpool dominated even at the early stages at Anfield in part thanks to shrewd tactician Alan Shearer taking the decision to bench day before yesterday’s man Michael Owen. It was no surprise when the Reds finally scored, a disgracefully offside Yossi Benayoun converting a Kuyt cross. Newcastle took no time in conceding a second, Bassong losing Dirk Kuyt from a corner, the Dutchman throwing himself into the header. Xabi Alonso was unfortunate to see his shot rebound off the woodwork as Liverpool ran riot in the first half. Joey Barton received a straight red for a just plain dirty foul on Alonso late on, before Fabio Aurelio’s free-kick was headed home by Lucas Leiva. You employ a man who hasn’t the first clue how to manage a football team, what do you expect? Newcastle United are developing the kind of momentum that threatens to hurtle them into the Championship.
Sunderland 0 – 2 Everton
A good day all round for the Merseyside teams. After a goalless first half, Everton took the lead minutes after the second when Jo played the ball into Steven Pienaar who scored an ugly goal to further puncture the Black Cats’ hopes of survival. It quickly became 2-0, Pienaar was given the freedom of the right-hand side and his cross was converted by Marouane Fellaini in the centre of the box. Only the similarly dismal form currently being enjoyed by the likes of Newcastle, Middlesbrough, West Brom and Hull City offers Ricky Sbragia’s bunch of weaklings any hope of avoiding relegation.
1-0
2-0
