Liverpool's record signing Andy Carroll may have
not made his mark against his former club but ex-Newcastle
striker Craig Bellamy more than made up for it with
two goals at Anfield.
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Another for Steven Gerrard on only his second appearance
after two months out with an ankle infection ensured
the Reds' struggles at home were banished.
Kenny Dalglish's side had drawn four of the last five
at Anfield, where they have dropped 12 points so far
this season, and for an hour it appeared that run would
continue.
However, Bellamy - who had scored in the first half
to cancel out Daniel Agger's own goal - curled home
a free-kick and Gerrard made sure of victory with an
angled shot. It was the first time Liverpool had scored
three goals in a match since the August 27 win over
Bolton.
The night was supposed to be all about Carroll, who
was given the role of main striker in the absence of
the suspended Luis Suarez, but the big centre-forward
again came up short. Playing as a lone front man he
struggled for support, especially in the first half,
and was often found out of position as he chased the
ball.
His best chance came in the latter stages of the match
when he crashed a header against the crossbar from close
range. But, fortunately for Carroll, Bellamy's eye for
goal was a lot sharper to ensure Liverpool - undoubtedly
helped by a 31-minute cameo from Gerrard - came from
behind to win a match that looked like a struggle at
times.
The story of Liverpool's six home draws this season
has been one of failing to take chances and the first
one created in the 15th minute was a typical example.
Former Magpies left-back Jose Enrique drilled a cross
through the six-yard area but Stewart Downing was moving
away from goal rather than towards it and the ball rolled
to safety.
Charlie Adam fired a 35-yard shot over while Downing
drew Tim Krul into a save low at his left-hand post.
Newcastle took the lead in odd circumstances in the
25th minute.
Haris Vuckic was walking towards the bench having been
hit in the face by Glen Johnson's clearance but Newcastle
played on and when Ryan Taylor swung in a cross from
the left the ball just missed Yohan Cabaye only for
Agger to inadvertently divert it past Jose Reina under
pressure from Demba Ba.
However, within four minutes Liverpool were level through
Bellamy.
Cheick Tiote made a poor attempt at clearing Adam's
cut-back from the right of the penalty area and Bellamy
drive through a crowd of players from 16 yards.
The home side picked up the tempo and Downing's volley
was blocked by Jonas Gutierrez while Martin Skrtel flashed
a header just wide of the far post from Bellamy's corner.
Early in the second half Cabaye was lucky to escape
punishment after catching Jay Spearing halfway up his
shin with a late tackle.
Gerrard replaced Adam just before the hour and the
captain's first involvement was to whip in a near-post
cross which almost picked out Carroll.
When the England midfielder did find the unmarked striker
in five yards of space in the penalty area the £35million
signing's first touch let him down badly.
Carroll played a decoy role in Liverpool's second goal
but the decisive move came from Danny Simpson.
As Bellamy lined up a 67th-minute free-kick the Newcastle
defender decided to back-track to the goalline, allowing
Carroll to advance towards Krul. When the set-piece
came in Simpson got in the way of his goalkeeper and
the ball crept between the two of them.
However, Newcastle would have equalised three minutes
later when Ba clipped a narrow-angle shot over Reina
- only for Skrtel to clear just inches from the goalline.
Despite Carroll's best efforts he seemed destined not
to score when his header rebounded off the crossbar.
Bellamy departed, with blood pouring from a cut above
his left eye after a clash with Fabricio Coloccini,
to be replaced by Dirk Kuyt for the final 16 minutes.
Not to be outdone Gerrard popped up with a trademark
third goal in the 77th minute when he ran from deep
to collect Henderson's through-ball and side-foot an
angled shot past Krul from the left of the penalty area.
It capped an improved second-half performance and helped
ease some of the frustration which had been building
up at Anfield.
After their bright start Newcastle have now won one
in eight and manager Alan Pardew needs to arrest the
slide.
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