Liverpool overcame a blow suffered even before kick-off to secure a 2-0 home victory over a ten-man Newcastle which keeps their Champions League qualification hopes alive.
Manager Brendan Rodgers was dealt a significant set-back ahead of Monday night’s Anfield clash with news Daniel Sturridge had pulled out of the squad with injury, making him a doubt for Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final against Aston Villa.
It meant the hosts were again forced to line up without a recognised frontman, and though they would have benefitted from a striker’s touch in front of goal, Reds starlet Raheem Sterling and midfielder Joe Allen were on hand to seal the three points with a goal either side of the break.
Sterling opened the scoring inside ten minutes with a sumptuous curling finish from Jordan Henderson’s stunning diagonal pass.
They really should have made the scoreline more glamorous in this one-sided affair, with 20-year-old Sterling forward guilty of a real howler in the second half when he somehow fired wide from close-range with the goal at his mercy.
Newcastle were all over the place at times but Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet was forced to pull off a brilliant save to deny a header from Ayoze Perez on the stroke of half-time, while they earlier had claims for a penalty turned down after the striker was felled in the box.
But the Magpies failed to build on their stronger end to the first-half, as Allen fired past Tim Krul on 70 minutes to wrap up a dominant win.
And it only got worse for Toon boss John Carver, who will now be without key midfielder Moussa Sissoko for three matches after his late sending off for a horror challenge on Lucas.
More to follow...
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