Liverpool Thrash Sorry Newcastle to Increase Lead at Top

Liverpool swept away Newcastle United at St James' Park in the day's early kick-off, taking a four-point lead at the top of the table thanks to a 5-1 win. After sustained early pressure, during which the Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given made at least five point-blank saves, Steven Gerrard finally broke the deadlock in the 31st minute, driving in Yossi Benayoun's right-wing cross from eight yards.

The one-way traffic continued and Sami Hyypia headed a Gerrard corner past Given in the 36th minute to double the visitors' advantage. But Newcastle were handed a surprise lifeline with the final touch of an otherwise utterly one-sided first half when David Edgar out-jumped Hyypia to nod past Pepe Reina in the Liverpool goal.

Any hopes of a second-half resurgence from Newcastle were soon snuffed out, however, when Ryan Babel took advantage of some more hesitant defending from the hosts to stab home a loose ball from close range. And when Gerrard added the finishing touch to a flowing Liverpool move in the 66th minute, Newcastle supporters were probably fearing the worst.

In the end, Liverpool could add only one more — a Xabi Alonso penalty after Edgar fouled David Ngog — but Rafa Benítez's team guaranteed that they will enter 2009 as league leaders, while Newcastle continue to search for some consistency to draw them clear of a relegation dogfight in the new year.