Liverpool against Newcastle United

Liverpool make a final change. Kewell, who has had the best game I've seen from him this season, goes off to an ovation. On comes Djimi Traore to stretch his legs.

Free-kick is played square to Gerrard who swings a leg at it and puts it in the top tier of the stands - they don't all fly in the back of the net.

Ambrose picks up a yellow card for a lazy foul on the edge of the box.

The break nearly brings a forth. Kewell was fed out wide on the left and his first time slide rule pass was just inches too far in front of the arriving Baros. Had he got there it would have been a goal, no doubt.

A moment that sums up Newcastle's mood at the moment. Pongolle miscontrolled the ball in midfield with Jenas and Elliot on top of him but he still had time to get the ball back and set off towards goal. They've given up now.

Final Newcastle substitution sees two former iPswich men trade places. Darren Ambrose comes on to replace Dyer who has been so ineffective that I had actually forgotten he was playing!

Liverpool come forward with Riise. His cross, though, is lashed across goal at such a pace that had Baros been able to reach it, it would have taken his head off. Too far in front of him anyway.

If newcastle looked unlikely to claw this back before they surley have no chance now. A man down and heads have dropped - they aren't in this anymore at all.

Bowyer - who had had a very good game up to the last 10 minutes - spoils it in the way he often does. A needless, nasty challenge, going over the ball and on to Pongolle's shins draws a second yellow card and off he goes for first go on the shower gel. The man's an idiot.

Another Liverpool change. Florent Sinama Pongolle comes on for the last 15 minutes, Mellor the player rested.

Nunez is not marked at all at the near post and has a free header. It was a touch behind him though and he couldn't direct it on goal.

Vicious Riise cross from deep causes panic in the Newcastle box and ends with a Liverpool corner.

Off goes Garcia, who looks tired after a busy game, and on comes Antonio Nunez.

Unless Newcastle can get something very soon Liverpool look likely to run this game out comfortably.

Another Newcastle substitution. Charles N'Zogbia makes a rare apperance in place of Milner.

Newcastle free-kick out by the corner of the 18 yard box on the left. Robert lines it up and puts enough pace and swerve on it to trouble Dudek. Flying save at his near post earns his match fee.

Savage looking foul from O'Brien on Kewell. Nowhere near the ball and at a dangerous height. Lucky not to get a card for that.

Shot from a long, long way out from Jenas. Low, hard and on target but it had to travel so far that Dudek had time to position himself accordingly.

Baros is getting better and better in this game. Bernard does well to tackle on the floor but he and Bramble are being given a torrid afternoon.

Newcastle corner is kept alive by Ameobi who waits and waits before threading a good pass to Jenas right in front of goal. It was a touch behind him but he really, really should have scored. Opportunity wasted for the Toon.

Liverpool threatening to run wild now pulling the newcastle defenders all over the place.

Kewell recieved the ball facing his own goal in the Liverpool half. A smart turn and jink bought him some space before he threaded a fine straight pass through the Bewcastle back line to Baros. Baros then simply ran on to it, dropped a shoulder to fool Given and slotted it home.

Wonderful goal out of absolutely nothing. Baros rounds Given to make it 3-1.

Newcastle make the first change of the afternoon. Off goes Kluivert - he only played because Bellamy was injured in the warm up and has a niggle himself - to be replaced by Robert.

Elliot joins Bowyer in the referee's notebook after a cynical tackle from behind on Baros.

Huge appeal for handball - mostly from the crowd - as O'Brien connects with a bouncing ball in the box. Nothing like.

Gerrard receives it short and shoots. A deflection off a Newcastle man loops it up into the air where Baros and Given compete for it. Baros wins the ball and puts it in the net but, as always in these situations, a free-kick is awarded to the keeper.

Bowyer scythes down Alonso and, desite his protestations, is rightly booked.

Long Milner free-kick is aimed for Ameobi. Broke free in the box but Ameobi didn't know where it was for a moment, allowing Liverpool to clear.

Newcastle build slowly with some possession football for a change. Promising but the impressive Carragher and Finnan - both having solid games - combine to nullify the threat.

Fine little drag back and turn from Alonso completely fools Jenas who slides right through him. No malice just done by the skill.

Corner is cleared but Liverpool retain possession. Gerrard eventually rides a couple fo challenges to get to the byline. Three Liverpool men had dropped back to the edge of the box but Gerrard elected to pplay it low and hard across the six yard line to no one.

Bramble and Baros pick up their personal duel; Baros coming out on top this time as he harries the Newcastle defender into giving away a corner.

Corner is a poor one and comes to nothing.

Newcastle free-kick curled into the box not properly dealt with by the Liverpool defence. Ricochets off Finnan and behind for a corner.

Newcastle get us restarted with neither side having made a change at the break.

Whistle goes and the half finishes 2-1 to Liverpool. They have been the better team so far but Newcastle are by no means out of it. More goals to come in this one I think.

Fantastic cross field diagonal ball from Alonso - wonderful to watch - picks out Garcia in space on the far side of the penalty area. With time to pick his spot or one of many team-mates who were arriving in the box to join him, he tamely shot, Given saving easily.

O'Brien's carlessness concedes possession to Gerrard in the middle of the pitch. The Liverpool man streams forward but his touch, on this rare ocassion, lets him down.

Half coming to a close just as it opened. High tempo and committed football but a few too many stray passes.

Good running from Milner down the left ends with a decent looking cross that Finnandoes well to head away from his six yard box.

Bramble against Baros in a straight sprint for the ball and the Newcastle defender wins it - just. A soft pass back to Given gives the keeper something to do and he does, clearing high into the stands.

Newcastle looking a little shaky now after seeing their lead turn into defecit in a matter of minutes. Liverpool back in charge of this one.

In almost identical circumstances to a few moments before Baros had possession with Mellor making the run off him. A first time softloy weighted pass was inch perfect and Mellor simply passed the ball into the far corner past a helpless Given. Simple but effective football from Liverpool's front two.

Baros backs up his stroppy words with actions and it ends up with a goal. 2-1 Liverpool with Mellor on target and a fine assist from Baros.

Mellor takes a pot shot from the edge of the area when Baros was overlapping into a position clear on goal. The Czech striker makes sure Mellor knows he is annoyed.

Liverpool are back on level terms. Corner from the left not well defended and it is Bramble, under pressure from Hyypia at the near post, who heads into his own net. 1-1 and we have a game all of a sudden.

Game has sprung back into life. Riise almost makes an immediate reply with a rasping shot from distance that is just wide.

Kluivert was a country mile offside when the pass was threaded forward but Bowyer ran on to it from an onside position before squaring for Kluivert, now onside, to tap it in. Debateable decision but in the laws of the game it stands.

Newcastle take the lead by springing the Liverpool offside trap and Kluivert gets the final touch in front of an empty net. 1-0 Newcastle.

Garcia tries his luck from an awkward angle, hoping to catch Given off guard. he didn't and only managed to annoy Baros who was in a good position to receive a pass.

Terrible delivery from Finnan from a deep free-kick.

Game has dampened down after the bright opening. Both teams intent on attack but too much traffic in the middle of the pitch. Liverpool looking the more likely to score.

Gerrard cuts across the centre of the park, past jenas and into shooting range. Lets fly but didn't quite catch it properly and it rolls just wide. Still not a bad effort.

Great control from Mellor as he brings down a high punted clearance, turns and sprays the ball wide to Garcia. Garcia's cross, though, does not match the build up.

Cross from the left again exposes the problems Liverpool are having with their zonal marking at set-pieces. Harmless looking ball but Ameobi has time and space to leap above everyone and win the header. Fortunately for the liverpool defenders his effort is off target.

Better from hyypia this time as he covers for Finnan on the right and puts in a solid challenge on Ameobi.

Hyypia gets lucky after his sloppiness lets Dyer in behind him when he had all the time in the world to clear. Good crossing position for the Newcastle player but his control let him down and he concedes a goal-kick.

Despite Liverpool being in the box seat of this game, Newcastle go closest to scoring. Short free-kick squared to Bernard who belts it from 25 yards. Flashes just wide of the upright with Dudek beaten.

This linesman is doing nothing to improve his popularity in this part of the world. Bramble seemed to give Baros a nudge as they were chasing down a long ball on the touchline, sending the Czech striker tumbling, right in front of the linesman in question. Free-kick to Liverpool? No, a Newcastle throw.

Baros is incensed with the linesman after working hard to win back the ball in the Newcastle area. The linesman flagged for a handball but Baros is having none of it. Replays show that it was a marginal - but correct - decision.

Carragher finds Garcia who has been a real livewire this afternoon with a fine pass but the move breaks down on the next pass.

Garcia finds a criminal amount of space on the Newcastle left but before he received the pass he had wandered offside.

Great long ball forward from Riise picks out Kewell but, with Baros overlapping and Liverpool with a numerical advantage, the Australian couldn't find a team-mate.

Hyypia very charitably sends a soft header only as far as Ameobi after a jenas cross to the far post. the Newcastle striker wastes the gift though with a strange cross-come-shot-come-launch into orbit. Real waste.

Newcastle find themselves with a man over for the first time in the game. Jenas picks out Milner who cuts inside Finnan before unleashing a shot. Finnan does well to recover and get in a block that takes the sting out of the effort.

Ball forward from Gerrard aimed at Mellor requires some defensive work from Bramble. A quick intercghange of passes with Given clears up the danger.

Milner tries to find a way through the Liverpool rearguard but his run is untidy and Carragher easily steals the ball from him.

Game has started at a quick pace but there are a few passes going astray as a result at the moment.

Trademark heads-down and go run from Baros takes him across the Newcastle area. Could have gone down under a shove but stayed on his feet to try and cross for Mellor but he hits the first defender.

Alonso plays a fine cross field pass to Gerrard who shows great strength to drive forward and shrug off a challenge before releasing Kewell. Neat ball in to Baros but a meaty challenge from Bowyer ends the move.

Garcia and Finnan play a neat one two down by the right corner flag but the lkinesman's flag halts the move.

Looping, dipping cross from the right from Gerrard is good but is just too long for Baros on the penalty spot.

Bowyer concedes possession cheaply but then Garcia returns the favour.

Kluivert gets the better of Hyypia - that promises to be an interesting battle - but Carragher cleans up with a clearance.

Great work from Baros as his persitence gets him round the back of Bernard. hugs the byline before playing an intelligent cut back to Garcia who balloons it over the bar from a very presentable position. Goes down as a miss.

Garcia involved early, drifting between the wings in the languid way that he does.

Craig Bellamy withdrew from the match at the last minute due to a back complaint. In comes Patrick Kluivert to partner Ameobi in a Shearer-less Newcastle attack.

Join us from 13:30 to see if these two Champions League chasing sides can get their seasons back on track. Who knows, it may be another 4-3 thriller...

Newcastle free-kick out by the corner of the 18 yard box on the left. Robert lines it up and puts enough pace and swerve on it to trouble Dudek. Flying save at his near post earns his match fee.

Savage looking foul from O'Brien on Kewell. Nowhere near the ball and at a dangerous height. Lucky not to get a card for that.

Shot from a long, long way out from Jenas. Low, hard and on target but it had to travel so far that Dudek had time to position himself accordingly.

Baros is getting better and better in this game. Bernard does well to tackle on the floor but he and Bramble are being given a torrid afternoon.

Newcastle corner is kept alive by Ameobi who waits and waits before threading a good pass to Jenas right in front of goal. It was a touch behind him but he really, really should have scored. Opportunity wasted for the Toon.

Liverpool threatening to run wild now pulling the newcastle defenders all over the place.

Kewell recieved the ball facing his own goal in the Liverpool half. A smart turn and jink bought him some space before he threaded a fine straight pass through the Bewcastle back line to Baros. Baros then simply ran on to it, dropped a shoulder to fool Given and slotted it home.

Wonderful goal out of absolutely nothing. Baros rounds Given to make it 3-1.

Newcastle make the first change of the afternoon. Off goes Kluivert - he only played because Bellamy was injured in the warm up and has a niggle himself - to be replaced by Robert.

Elliot joins Bowyer in the referee's notebook after a cynical tackle from behind on Baros.

Huge appeal for handball - mostly from the crowd - as O'Brien connects with a bouncing ball in the box. Nothing like.

Gerrard receives it short and shoots. A deflection off a Newcastle man loops it up into the air where Baros and Given compete for it. Baros wins the ball and puts it in the net but, as always in these situations, a free-kick is awarded to the keeper.

Bowyer scythes down Alonso and, desite his protestations, is rightly booked.

Long Milner free-kick is aimed for Ameobi. Broke free in the box but Ameobi didn't know where it was for a moment, allowing Liverpool to clear.

Newcastle build slowly with some possession football for a change. Promising but the impressive Carragher and Finnan - both having solid games - combine to nullify the threat.

Fine little drag back and turn from Alonso completely fools Jenas who slides right through him. No malice just done by the skill.

Corner is cleared but Liverpool retain possession. Gerrard eventually rides a couple fo challenges to get to the byline. Three Liverpool men had dropped back to the edge of the box but Gerrard elected to pplay it low and hard across the six yard line to no one.

Bramble and Baros pick up their personal duel; Baros coming out on top this time as he harries the Newcastle defender into giving away a corner.

Corner is a poor one and comes to nothing.

Newcastle free-kick curled into the box not properly dealt with by the Liverpool defence. Ricochets off Finnan and behind for a corner.

Newcastle get us restarted with neither side having made a change at the break.

Whistle goes and the half finishes 2-1 to Liverpool. They have been the better team so far but Newcastle are by no means out of it. More goals to come in this one I think.

Fantastic cross field diagonal ball from Alonso - wonderful to watch - picks out Garcia in space on the far side of the penalty area. With time to pick his spot or one of many team-mates who were arriving in the box to join him, he tamely shot, Given saving easily.

O'Brien's carlessness concedes possession to Gerrard in the middle of the pitch. The Liverpool man streams forward but his touch, on this rare ocassion, lets him down.

Half coming to a close just as it opened. High tempo and committed football but a few too many stray passes.

Good running from Milner down the left ends with a decent looking cross that Finnandoes well to head away from his six yard box.

Bramble against Baros in a straight sprint for the ball and the Newcastle defender wins it - just. A soft pass back to Given gives the keeper something to do and he does, clearing high into the stands.

Newcastle looking a little shaky now after seeing their lead turn into defecit in a matter of minutes. Liverpool back in charge of this one.

In almost identical circumstances to a few moments before Baros had possession with Mellor making the run off him. A first time softloy weighted pass was inch perfect and Mellor simply passed the ball into the far corner past a helpless Given. Simple but effective football from Liverpool's front two.

Baros backs up his stroppy words with actions and it ends up with a goal. 2-1 Liverpool with Mellor on target and a fine assist from Baros.

Mellor takes a pot shot from the edge of the area when Baros was overlapping into a position clear on goal. The Czech striker makes sure Mellor knows he is annoyed.

Liverpool are back on level terms. Corner from the left not well defended and it is Bramble, under pressure from Hyypia at the near post, who heads into his own net. 1-1 and we have a game all of a sudden.

Game has sprung back into life. Riise almost makes an immediate reply with a rasping shot from distance that is just wide.

Kluivert was a country mile offside when the pass was threaded forward but Bowyer ran on to it from an onside position before squaring for Kluivert, now onside, to tap it in. Debateable decision but in the laws of the game it stands.

Newcastle take the lead by springing the Liverpool offside trap and Kluivert gets the final touch in front of an empty net. 1-0 Newcastle.

Garcia tries his luck from an awkward angle, hoping to catch Given off guard. he didn't and only managed to annoy Baros who was in a good position to receive a pass.

Terrible delivery from Finnan from a deep free-kick.

Game has dampened down after the bright opening. Both teams intent on attack but too much traffic in the middle of the pitch. Liverpool looking the more likely to score.

Gerrard cuts across the centre of the park, past jenas and into shooting range. Lets fly but didn't quite catch it properly and it rolls just wide. Still not a bad effort.

Great control from Mellor as he brings down a high punted clearance, turns and sprays the ball wide to Garcia. Garcia's cross, though, does not match the build up.

Cross from the left again exposes the problems Liverpool are having with their zonal marking at set-pieces. Harmless looking ball but Ameobi has time and space to leap above everyone and win the header. Fortunately for the liverpool defenders his effort is off target.

Better from hyypia this time as he covers for Finnan on the right and puts in a solid challenge on Ameobi.

Hyypia gets lucky after his sloppiness lets Dyer in behind him when he had all the time in the world to clear. Good crossing position for the Newcastle player but his control let him down and he concedes a goal-kick.

Despite Liverpool being in the box seat of this game, Newcastle go closest to scoring. Short free-kick squared to Bernard who belts it from 25 yards. Flashes just wide of the upright with Dudek beaten.

This linesman is doing nothing to improve his popularity in this part of the world. Bramble seemed to give Baros a nudge as they were chasing down a long ball on the touchline, sending the Czech striker tumbling, right in front of the linesman in question. Free-kick to Liverpool? No, a Newcastle throw.

Baros is incensed with the linesman after working hard to win back the ball in the Newcastle area. The linesman flagged for a handball but Baros is having none of it. Replays show that it was a marginal - but correct - decision.

Carragher finds Garcia who has been a real livewire this afternoon with a fine pass but the move breaks down on the next pass.

Garcia finds a criminal amount of space on the Newcastle left but before he received the pass he had wandered offside.

Great long ball forward from Riise picks out Kewell but, with Baros overlapping and Liverpool with a numerical advantage, the Australian couldn't find a team-mate.

Hyypia very charitably sends a soft header only as far as Ameobi after a jenas cross to the far post. the Newcastle striker wastes the gift though with a strange cross-come-shot-come-launch into orbit. Real waste.

Newcastle find themselves with a man over for the first time in the game. Jenas picks out Milner who cuts inside Finnan before unleashing a shot. Finnan does well to recover and get in a block that takes the sting out of the effort.

Ball forward from Gerrard aimed at Mellor requires some defensive work from Bramble. A quick intercghange of passes with Given clears up the danger.

Milner tries to find a way through the Liverpool rearguard but his run is untidy and Carragher easily steals the ball from him.

Game has started at a quick pace but there are a few passes going astray as a result at the moment.

Trademark heads-down and go run from Baros takes him across the Newcastle area. Could have gone down under a shove but stayed on his feet to try and cross for Mellor but he hits the first defender.

Alonso plays a fine cross field pass to Gerrard who shows great strength to drive forward and shrug off a challenge before releasing Kewell. Neat ball in to Baros but a meaty challenge from Bowyer ends the move.

Garcia and Finnan play a neat one two down by the right corner flag but the lkinesman's flag halts the move.

Looping, dipping cross from the right from Gerrard is good but is just too long for Baros on the penalty spot.

Bowyer concedes possession cheaply but then Garcia returns the favour.

Kluivert gets the better of Hyypia - that promises to be an interesting battle - but Carragher cleans up with a clearance.

Great work from Baros as his persitence gets him round the back of Bernard. hugs the byline before playing an intelligent cut back to Garcia who balloons it over the bar from a very presentable position. Goes down as a miss.

Garcia involved early, drifting between the wings in the languid way that he does.

Craig Bellamy withdrew from the match at the last minute due to a back complaint. In comes Patrick Kluivert to partner Ameobi in a Shearer-less Newcastle attack.

Join us from 13:30 to see if these two Champions League chasing sides can get their seasons back on track. Who knows, it may be another 4-3 thriller...