New Delhi: Newcastle United played host to a Liverpool side hoping to cement their place as Premier League leaders heading into the New Year. Joe Kinnear made a number of changes from the line-up lost to Wigan Athletic on Boxing Day, with David Edgar making his first league start in over three months.
The visitors, meanwhile, were riding high after a barnstorming displays against Bolton Wanderers. Robbie Keane bagged a brilliant brace against the Trotters, yet he was left on the bench as Dirk Kuyt slotted in up front. Ryan Babel was given a rare start on the left flank. In form Xabi Alonso was also omitted, with Lucas Leiva taking his place in midfield.
First Half
Possession was exchanged regularly in the first five minutes as both sides struggled to string together fluent attacks. Steven Gerrard and Fabricio Coloccini tried their luck from distance early on before the Liverpool skipper fed Kuyt through after some nice skill - but Shay Given blocked the Dutchman's close-range effort.
Gerrard had a golden opportunity to find the net a few minutes later, but he got caught in two minds after dancing through the Toon defence. The England man had another chance moments later, striking a stinging first-time shot - but Given saved brilliantly with his outstretched right hand.
The Reds were clearly in the ascendancy, and the chances came thick and fast. Sami Hyypia headed just wide and had another effort cleared off the line, while Lucas amazingly failed to poke home from three yards out before his goal-bound header was thwarted in stunning fashion by the Magpies' on-fire shot-stopper.
Newcastle had stemmed the tide somewhat by the time the half-hour ticked over, but it was at that point that Given was finally beaten. A patient build-up from Liverpool saw Javier Mascherano feed in Yossi Benayoun, who pulled back for Gerrard to blast home from 15 yards.
Less than two minutes later, it seemed the home side had equalised. Damien Duff sprung the Reds' rearguard and squared to Michael Owen in the box, but the offside flag was already up by the time the ball bulged the net. Replays showed that the Geordies were perhaps hard done by.
And then it was 2-0 to the 'Pool. Hyypia, who had already been denied twice, towered above the scrum to head home Gerrard's 36th-minute corner and extend his side's lead. The veteran Finn almost doubled his tally in the 41st minute, but Given pulled off another fine stop.
But the Tynesiders were not completely out of the contest, and they dragged one back in first-half stoppage time through Edgar. The Canadian outjumped his marker at a corner and finished well with his head to give Newcastle some hope heading into the break.
Second Half
Shola Ameobi was brought on at the restart for Jose Enrique, who had reportedly picked up an injury. It didn't take long for the big targetman to get involved, as he burst into the box after just two minutes and pulled back a wicked cross - but not one among the horde of onrushing attackers could latch onto it.
However, it was Liverpool who did the damage, with Babel prodding home in the 50th minute. The Dutchman's initial back-heel was kept out in a goal-line scrum, but he was gifted another crack and made no mistake from point-blank range.
Butt was hooked just short of the hour in favour of Geremi, and again the substitute's impact was felt immediately. After Mascherano was booked for brining down Owen 25 yards out, the Cameroonian beat Pepe Reina all ends up with a stunning set-piece only to be denied by the crossbar.
Rafael Benitez, pulling the strings from the stands, was forced to swap Benayoun for Alonso in an attempt stabilise things in the middle of the pitch - and soon after, the Merseysiders scored their fourth. Again it was Steven Gerrard, who dinked cleverly over a helpless Given after his tearing run off the right flank was honoured by Lucas' beautifully weighted through-ball.
Stevie G was hauled off shortly after, and his replacement, David N'Gog, wasted little tiem making his mark. The French youngster won a penalty after jigging neatly around Edgar, and his fellow sub Alonso blasted home number five.
An awe-inspiring display from Liverpool, who have now well and truly announced themselves as the team to beat in 2009.
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