Liverpool 3 - 1 Newcastle

Returning skipper Steven Gerrard sealed victory over Newcastle following two Craig Bellamy goals as Liverpool rose to fifth in the Premier League.
Gerrard, who made his second appearance since returning from injury, capped a fine cameo when he tucked in late on.
Bellamy had earlier fired in a low shot to level after Daniel Agger diverted Ryan Taylor's cross past Pepe Reina.
And the former Magpie gave Liverpool the lead from a free-kick before Gerrard scored from a tight angle.
His goal was fully merited after a performance which invigorated Kenny Dalglish's side just as Newcastle were beginning to claw their way back into the contest.
The defeat for Newcastle means they have won once in their last eight league outings and perhaps it was a surprise that Liverpool had not added a third goal sooner, such was the quality of Gerrard's deliveries into the box.
But unfortunately for them, Andy Carroll had another night in which he failed to find the target despite crashing a header against the bar from a superb Gerrard centre as he extended his run without a goal to nine matches.
After a period in which Liverpool struggled to turn chances into goals and drew six of their nine games at Anfield, Gerrard's return following an ankle problem that had kept him out since October will have given them a huge lift as they embark on their quest for a Champions League spot.
And it will also give them hope that they can sustain that challenge should leading goalscorer Luis Suarez's eight-match ban for alleged racist comments towards Manchester United's Patrice Evra be upheld.
With the Uruguayan banned for making a gesture towards Fulham's fans in a separate incident, Bellamy took his place in the side and the Welshman was a constant threat down Liverpool's left as he looked to support lone striker Carroll, who was also up against his previous club.
Gerrard has scored seven goals in his last nine Premier League games against Newcastle United.
While the two former Magpies were full of endeavour, their willingness to be involved in the build-up meant there were several occasions when there was no-one in the box to finish their good work.
And in keeping with their promising season thus far, Newcastle withstood the early pressure to pounce from an isolated attack on 25 minutes.
Top scorer Demba Ba has lit up the Premier League this season with 14 goals in his last 13 games and his presence had a hand in the goal as Ryan Taylor's cross from the left was nodded on by Yohan Cabaye and with Ba in close quarters the ball diverted off Agger past Reina.
Having been on top up until that point, Liverpool were stung into life by that goal, although the visitors almost looked like they had cleared the danger.
Cheick Tiote cleared Charlie Adam's low cross from the right, but with men lined in front of goal, Bellamy found the bottom corner.
Dalglish's side pressed further after that and Martin Skrtel went close with a near-post header from a corner, with Adam also inches away from diverting it into the net.
That was enough for Dalglish to bring on Gerrard, and the Liverpool skipper was involved straight away on his 15th outing of 2011, twice picking out Carroll, with the striker being let down by a poor first touch on the second occasion when he was unmarked in the box.
Fortunately for him and Liverpool, they took the lead on 76 minutes though they were a tad lucky to be given a free-kick when Tiote challenged Agger.
Bellamy stepped up to curl a delicious free-kick in, but Danny Simpson made a real hash of defending the line by deflecting the ball past Tim Krul.
Newcastle came close to equalising soon after when Ba somehow clipped the ball past Reina from Cabaye's cute pass, with the French midfielder perhaps fortunate not to be punished for an earlier tackle on Jay Spearing, but Skrtel's goal-line clearance was equally impressive.
Carroll then smashed a header against the bar from Gerrard's cross, but the returning talisman showed his team-mate how to finish when he collected Jordan Henderson's through ball to finish from a tight angle.

STEVEN GERRARD: I'M READY IF ENGLAND NEED ME

STEVEN GERRARD will answer England's call if manager Fabio Capello selects the Liverpool skipper for the vital European Championship qualifier against Montenegro on Friday night.
Capello was on Merseyside to watch Gerrard take another step towards full fitness following six months out in the aftermath of a groin operation.Although the player admits that he is short of match fitness his love for the Three Lions will see him make the trip to the Balkans if Capello gives him the nod in the squad announced tonight.Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has already called for common sense from England, believing that the Montenegro game has come too soon for the inspirational midfielder.But Capello believes he should make the final decision on the 31-year-old when it comes to England duty.He is planning to talk to Gerrard, stating: “He can tell me if he is not fit or if he can play. It is really important that the player tells me.“We have some problems in midfield. For this reason we need to be careful. Some players can stay on the bench, or come on at half-time, not all the game.“I want to speak with Steve. If he decides ‘yes, I can’, he will be with us. If he says he can’t, he will stay at home.”Gerrard, who played another 23 minutes as a substitute in yesterday’s 2-0 win over Liverpool, will never turn his back on his country.If Capello gives him the go-ahead, he will report for international duty.

"Lampard, Gerrard could play together"

Fabio Capello might play Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard in the centre of midfield for the match against the United States.
The conundrum of how to get the best from England's finest two attacking midfielders proved beyond Sven-Goran Eriksson and Steve McClaren.
Capello discovered the answer immediately, shifting Gerrard forward to turn the axis onto the partnership between the Liverpool captain and Wayne Rooney, while deploying a holding player that let Lampard cut loose from further back.
Yet, less than two weeks before England go into battle for the greatest prize in the game, Capello finds himself in the delicate position of having to wind the clock right back.
The problem has been created by a combination of a long-term injury to Owen Hargreaves, Capello's first-choice holding player, a more short-term problem for Gareth Barry that should at least allow him to make it to South Africa but not face the USA, and Michael Carrick's loss of form.
Twice in the past week, against Mexico and Japan, England have been in trouble until Gerrard was switched into central midfield and, on both occasions, the improvement has been instant.
Now, after spending so long pursuing another idea, Capello must decide whether it is worth resurrecting the Lampard-Gerrard formula.
"I know the history," Capello smiled. "This is a big question for you always? Can't play together?
"Probably both were too young. That was a joke. I hope that they can play together. I have to decide whether to try."
Capello likes to play his cards close to his chest and rarely reveals all about any particular subject.
Clues can be found though, and in highlighting how quickly England began to move, both with their passing and their feet after half-time, suggested Capello feels he will pair Lampard and Gerrard together in Rustenburg.
"Good players can move positions," he said. "Frank and Steve are used to going forward because they have a holding player alongside them.
"If they play together one will have to stay at different moments.
"The most important thing I saw against Japan was when these players got the ball they played it really quickly.
"The passes through the Japan defence were really good."
Capello will not start formulating his plans until he receives the latest medical bulletin on Barry Wednesday morning.
He expects to be told the Manchester City midfielder will be fit enough to train properly immediately after the United States encounter and therefore pass his minimum requirement for a place in the 23-man squad.
Once that information has been digested, Capello can begin the difficult task of making seven phone calls that inform the unlucky recipient their services are no longer required.
Scott Parker, Stephen Warnock and Michael Dawson will surely be out, so too Tom Huddlestone and Darren Bent.
To an outsider, the main problem is whether Capello utilises the guile of Joe Cole at the expense of the pace provided by either Adam Johnson or Shaun Wright-Phillips.
Capello's previous statements on the three players indicate a belief this World Cup has come too early for Johnson, who has made rapid progress after starting the season in the Championship with Middlesbrough but may have to wait for the Euro 2012 qualifiers.
Wright-Phillips did well against Japan on Sunday, but not as well as Cole, so unless Capello springs a major surprise by omitting Matthew Upson, Ledley King or Michael Carrick, there is no room for the Manchester City man.
Capello has already declared the decisions he has to make to be the hardest part of his job, and he will couch the bad news in the softer wrapping of telling the not-so-magnificent seven they were only in this position because they are among England's finest talents.
"I have told them all they are the best English players and that is why they were here," Capello said.
"They have all trained very well and stayed focused throughout, but I am disappointed because I have to choose 23 players."
There is also the matter of Capello's future to secure, by taking out the clause in his four-year contract that would allow either the Italian or the FA to terminate it following the World Cup.
A verbal agreement had been reached with former FA chairman Lord Triesman and Capello wanted to receive assurances from Club England chairman Sir David Richards before ignoring overtures from Inter Milan and concentrating on the biggest challenge of his career.
Capello and Richards spoke on the telephone and a source close to the discussions, who did not wish to be named, said they were "very positive" with both parties now hoping to bring a close to the matter by the time the team departs for South Africa.
It is understood that improving the terms of the contract is not on the agenda and discussions will only deal with removing the clause inserted in Capello's contract when he was appointed England manager.
"I cannot wait for the World Cup to start," he said. "I am focused on everything that I have to do and prepare so I hope the result will be good.
"But the whole thing is very exciting. I know that a whole nation stands behind the team and me. A whole country, with all its fans.
"The pressure is higher in England because the last title was achieved a long time ago.
"But the supporters have confidence in the team because I have it too."