LIVERPOOL 2 - 0 NEWCASTLE UNITED
Wednesday 20 September 2006 20:00 , Barclays Premiership
ALONSO HIGH AS A KUYT AS REDS WIN
Xabi Alonso scored one of the most spectacular goals in Anfield history as Dirk Kuyt got off the mark in a red shirt and Liverpool got back to winning ways with a comfortable 2-0 home victory over Newcastle United on Wednesday.
Kuyt netted for the first time since his August arrival from Feyenoord when he opened the scoring by converting from close-range in the 29th minute.
But it was Alonso's stunning strike that people will be talking about for years to come. It came 11 minutes from time and was an almost carbon-copy of his famous long-range goal against Luton in January.
Dispossessing Charles N'Zogbia about 60-yards out, the Spaniard potted Steve Harper off his line and floated a delightful dipping effort high into the Kop net.
It put the seal on a well-deserved win for the Reds who dominated for long periods and have moved up six places in the Premiership table as a result.
Teams
Liverpool: Reina, Aurelio, Agger, Carragher, Finnan, Garcia (captain), Sissoko, Alonso, Gerrard, Kuyt, Bellamy. Subs - Dudek, Hyypia, Gonzalez, Crouch, Warnock
Newcastle United: Harper, Babayaro, Ramage, Moore, Carr, Duff, , Parker (captain), Milner, Martins, Ameobi. Subs - Krul, N'Zogbia, Rossi, Sibierski, Butt
Referee: Mark Halsey
Conditions: Mild
Attendance: 43,754
Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Xabi Alonso
Breakdown
19:22 GMT : Match Starts
1 min : Liverpool kick off attacking the Anfield Road end
2 mins : Kuyt's intelligent through pass almost gets Gerrard through, but Harper is out
5 mins : Garcia is in space, but he over hits his pass to Gerrard and Newcastle have a throw
7 mins : Liverpool begin to get on top and apply some pressure for the first time
9 mins : Aurelio tackles well to stop Milner getting down the line
10 mins : Reina catches Parker's 18 yard shot at the second attempt
13 mins : Ameobi is caught offside from Carr's high clearance
13 mins : Garcia turns brilliantly before sending Bellamy clear, who saw his shot saved by Harper
15 mins : Gerrard's pass finds Bellamy, but his attempted cross is blocked
19 mins : Sissoko tries an ambitious shot from 25 yards, but it drifts harmlessly wide
21 mins : Kuyt gets his head to Aurelio's cross, but he can't direct it goalwards
23 mins : Liverpool have a free kick central 25 yards out after Bellamy is fouled
23 mins : The ball breaks to Garcia and his shot is saved by Harper
27 mins : Garcia finds space 25 yards out and forces Harper into another save with a dipping drive
29 mins : GOAL Kuyt scores his first Reds goal as he slides in to meet Finnan's cross
27 mins : Garcia finds space 25 yards out and forces Harper into another save with a dipping drive
29 mins : GOAL! Dirk Kuyt: Kuyt scores his first Reds goal as he slides in to stab home Gerrard's cross
37 mins : Liverpool appeal for a penalty after Garcia's shot appears to be blocked by a Newcastle arm
40 mins : Liverpool create space on the left, but Aurelio's cross drifts over the crossbar
42 mins : Milner reaches the touchline on the right, but his cross is collected by Reina
44 mins : Buoyed by his goal, Kuyt attempts an audacious overhead kick, but it goes over
45 mins : Garcia's cross finds Gerrard, but his shot is blocked. Liverpool are looking for a second
19:49 GMT : Half Time Reached
20:05 GMT : Second Half Begins
46 mins : Newcastle get us going again after the break
47 mins : The referee waves away appeals for a Newcastle penalty after Ameobi goes down in the area
48 mins : Booking: Luis Garcia: Garcia gets a yellow for deliberate handball
50 mins : Bellamy works hard to close down Babayaro and forces the Newcastle man into a misplaced pass
50 mins : Garcia breaks down the left and Kuyt almost notches his second as his first time shot goes wide
51 mins : Newcastle fans appeal for a penalty, but the ball clearly went out off Carragher's body
52 mins : Fromthe resulting corner Ramage heads straight into the hands of Reina
53 mins : Newcastle have a free kick in a dangerous position after Martins goes down in a challenge with Alonso
54 mins : The Liverpool wall stands firm to deflect the ball for a corner
56 mins : Gerrard's block tackle sends Bellamy clear and his chipped shot beats Harper, but hits the post
58 mins : Newcastle threaten briefly before Martins shoots high and wide
58 mins : Good play from Bellamy on the left creates a chance for Garcia, but he scuffs his shot wide
62 mins : Booking: Craig Moore: Moore is booked for a foul on Kuyt
63 mins : It takes a great save from Harper to turn Aurelio's free kick around the post
65 mins : Harper spills Gerrard's corner, but he recovers to save Garcia's shot
67 mins : Liverpool break with Gerrard, but Kuyt's cross is intercepted
69 mins : Substitution: Charles N'Zogbia for James Milner:
71 mins : Sissoko meets Gerrard's corner with force, but his header spins wide
73 mins : Garcia gathers Gerrard's cross brilliantly before smacking a volley against the post
74 mins : Liverpool should have had a penalty after Bellamy's cross is
74 mins : Liverpool should have had a penalty after Bellamy's cross is
74 mins : handled by Babayaro in the area
76 mins : The Reds are piling on the pressure and this time it's Kuyt who goes close with a header from Aurelio's cross.
77 mins : Substitution: Giuseppi Rossi for Obafemi Martins:
78 mins : GOAL! Xabi Alonso: Alonso takes the roof off Anfield with an absolutely breathtaking goal from inside his own half
81 mins : Parker tries to respond for Newcastle, but he shoots over
82 mins : Substitution: Peter Crouch for Dirk Kuyt: Goalscorer Kuyt gets a great reception as he goes off
82 mins : Substitution: Antoine Sibierski for Shola Ameobi:
84 mins : Steven Gerrard forces Harper into another save. Harper must still be thinking of Alonso's brilliant goal.
86 mins : Substitution: Mark Gonzalez for Steven Gerrard:
90 mins : Anfield begins to celebrate a fine win as the we head for the final whistle
20:54 GMT : Match Over
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