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| Liverpool come from behind to seal bitter-sweet victory over Newcastle | Liverpool come from behind to seal bitter-sweet victory over Newcastle |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Liverpool ended the season with a fightback of their own; 101 goals, 16 wins from 19 home games and 84 points but no precious number 19. That dream was interrupted by Chelsea at Anfield a fortnight ago and shattered at Selhurst Park last Monday. A recovery to beat Newcastle United on the final day confirmed why Brendan Rodgers feels such pride in this campaign but it was rendered academic by Manchester City's title triumph at the Etihad Stadium. | |
| Second-half goals from Daniel Agger and Daniel Sturridge, both from Steven Gerrard free-kicks, inflicted another defeat on Alan Pardew's Newcastle but the home side's lap of appreciation after the game was both richly deserved and tinged with regret. | |
| For an hour it appeared belief, that precious commodity that can take an age to acquire and vanish on a whim, had taken its leave from Liverpool following that nine-minute collapse at Crystal Palace. Anfield was as loud and supportive as it had been throughout the team's assault on the Premier League title, pushing for one last home win just in case. Liverpool's players, however, appeared not to share that conviction. They were cautious and careless throughout the first half and could have trailed by more than Martin Skrtel's unfortunate own goal by the interval. | For an hour it appeared belief, that precious commodity that can take an age to acquire and vanish on a whim, had taken its leave from Liverpool following that nine-minute collapse at Crystal Palace. Anfield was as loud and supportive as it had been throughout the team's assault on the Premier League title, pushing for one last home win just in case. Liverpool's players, however, appeared not to share that conviction. They were cautious and careless throughout the first half and could have trailed by more than Martin Skrtel's unfortunate own goal by the interval. |
| The digs and the grievances came early. A plane circled above Anfield before kick-off carrying a banner that read "United 20, Gerrard 0". Newcastle fans showed what they thought of Pardew, in case there was any lingering doubt, in a banner containing one word and four letters. In the interests of taste we will leave that to the imagination. | |
| Pardew may have been unimaginative in his tactics as he invited Liverpool on to a five-man defence shielded by a physical four-man midfield but they stifled the home side comfortably before the break. Shola Ameobi, their lone striker, made light of isolation from his team-mates with a tireless and robust performance against Liverpool's maligned defence. He would ruin a fine afternoon's shift with a ridiculous red card that encapsulated Newcastle's ill-disciplined second-half display. | Pardew may have been unimaginative in his tactics as he invited Liverpool on to a five-man defence shielded by a physical four-man midfield but they stifled the home side comfortably before the break. Shola Ameobi, their lone striker, made light of isolation from his team-mates with a tireless and robust performance against Liverpool's maligned defence. He would ruin a fine afternoon's shift with a ridiculous red card that encapsulated Newcastle's ill-disciplined second-half display. |
| Rodgers confirmed that even at this late stage he does not have a tried and trusted central defensive partnership by recalling Daniel Agger at the expense of Mamadou Sakho following events at Selhurst Park. The home side dominated possession from the start but, as against Chelsea's two buses in their previous Anfield fixture, struggled to find the solutions that Rodgers has conceded will be asked of him more often next season. | Rodgers confirmed that even at this late stage he does not have a tried and trusted central defensive partnership by recalling Daniel Agger at the expense of Mamadou Sakho following events at Selhurst Park. The home side dominated possession from the start but, as against Chelsea's two buses in their previous Anfield fixture, struggled to find the solutions that Rodgers has conceded will be asked of him more often next season. |
| Ameobi had two half chances before Liverpool constructed their first incisive move around the Newcastle area, one that ended with Jordan Henderson appealing in vain for a penalty after a collision with Steven Taylor. And Liverpool did not require a goal at the Etihad Stadium to suspect it was going to be one of those days. Luis Suárez produced a sublime piece of skill to curl a free-kick into Tim Krul's net with the outside of his right foot from near the touchline. Unfortunately for Liverpool's No7 the referee Phil Dowd had not blown his whistle and ordered a retake. That was cleared, and Newcastle promptly broke up to the other end and scored. | |
| Yoan Gouffran was released into space down the left and sent a dangerous cross towards the near post into Ameobi's run. Skrtel got there first but succeeded only in deflecting the ball beyond Simon Mignolet for his fourth own goal of the season, a Premier League record in a single campaign. Anfield was deflated, the Etihad closer to the title, and it could have been worse for Liverpool when Ameobi released Gouffran behind a static back-line. Mignolet stood his ground and saved the winger's unconvincing effort. | Yoan Gouffran was released into space down the left and sent a dangerous cross towards the near post into Ameobi's run. Skrtel got there first but succeeded only in deflecting the ball beyond Simon Mignolet for his fourth own goal of the season, a Premier League record in a single campaign. Anfield was deflated, the Etihad closer to the title, and it could have been worse for Liverpool when Ameobi released Gouffran behind a static back-line. Mignolet stood his ground and saved the winger's unconvincing effort. |
| Sturridge squandered a glorious chance to level in the first half but headed Henderson's cross wide from close range. There would have been ample excuse for Liverpool to coast when they received news of City's lead during the interval but they responded impressively in the second half , the introduction of Philippe Coutinho for Joe Allen providing much-needed invention. | Sturridge squandered a glorious chance to level in the first half but headed Henderson's cross wide from close range. There would have been ample excuse for Liverpool to coast when they received news of City's lead during the interval but they responded impressively in the second half , the introduction of Philippe Coutinho for Joe Allen providing much-needed invention. |
| Agger levelled when he turned in Gerrard's free-kick at the far post following a foul on Raheem Sterling by Vurnon Anita. Two minutes later, from an identical free-kick awarded against Cheik Tioté for a foul on Coutinho, Sturridge arrived unmarked at the back post to convert the captain's inviting delivery. Newcastle were crumbling and down to 10 men when Ameobi berated Dowd all the way back to the penalty spot after Sturridge's goal. The striker was shown a yellow card on the centre circle only to continue his rant and receive a red card before Newcastle could resume play. | Agger levelled when he turned in Gerrard's free-kick at the far post following a foul on Raheem Sterling by Vurnon Anita. Two minutes later, from an identical free-kick awarded against Cheik Tioté for a foul on Coutinho, Sturridge arrived unmarked at the back post to convert the captain's inviting delivery. Newcastle were crumbling and down to 10 men when Ameobi berated Dowd all the way back to the penalty spot after Sturridge's goal. The striker was shown a yellow card on the centre circle only to continue his rant and receive a red card before Newcastle could resume play. |
| The substitute Paul Dummett became the second Newcastle player dismissed when he lunged into Suárez five minutes after coming on. Despite results elsewhere taking the title out of Liverpool's reach, the finale provided a fitting conclusion to the season for both clubs. | The substitute Paul Dummett became the second Newcastle player dismissed when he lunged into Suárez five minutes after coming on. Despite results elsewhere taking the title out of Liverpool's reach, the finale provided a fitting conclusion to the season for both clubs. |