Liverpool vs. Newcastle United: Score, Grades, Reaction from Premier League

Liverpool moved within four points of the Premier League's top four following a 2-0 victory at home to Newcastle United on Monday evening at Anfield.

The home side dominated much of the first half and took a deserved lead through Raheem Sterling's fine individual goal in the ninth minute. Newcastle gained a foothold late in the first half and threatened early in the second, but Liverpool sealed the points via Joe Allen's instinctive finish 20 minutes from time.

With the win, the Reds moved into fifth place with 57 points through 32 games, four points behind defending champions Manchester City in the race for the Premier League's fourth and final UEFA Champions League slot.

Jon Super/Associated Press

Following back-to-back losses to Manchester United and Arsenal, Liverpool's top-four hopes appeared all but lost. But with Man City also struggling for form as of late, Brendan Rodgers' side could yet find their way into Europe's top club competition next season.

First, though, Liverpool will turn their attention to another competition and their last chance at silverware this season. On Sunday, the Reds will play Aston Villa at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-final. The following Saturday, Rodgers' men will travel to the West Midlands to face West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League.

For Newcastle, meanwhile, Monday's defeat was their fifth straight in league play. With six matches left in the season, John Carver's side is not quite safe from relegation, with only nine points standing between them and the drop zone.

Liverpool needed little time to open the scoring, as Sterling broke the deadlock with a fine individual effort in the ninth minute. After accepting Jordan Henderson's raking pass to the left flank, Sterling cut inside on his right foot, beat a pair of defenders and curled into the far corner past the sprawling Tim Krul.

It was an impressive opener that underlined Sterling's status as one of Europe's most promising young players. But Liverpool weren't content with the single goal, carving out another good chance just four minutes later. Dejan Lovren set Alberto Moreno free with a through ball into the box, and Moreno drilled a shot on goal from a tight angle. This time, however, Krul saved.

The hosts had another opening in the 22nd minute, as Philippe Coutinho eluded a pair of defenders with a display of close control along the edge of the box on the right. But as he neared the goal at a tight angle, Coutinho chose to cross instead of shoot, sending the ball harmlessly across the face of goal with no Liverpool players on hand to tap in.

Jon Super/Associated Press

Liverpool continued to produce scintillating football, with Sterling volleying at Krul after a flowing team move in the 24th minute.

It was almost entirely one-way traffic in Liverpool's favour, but Newcastle mounted a rare attack in the 28th minute. The move culminated with Mehdi Abeid hitting a volley on target, but Simon Mignolet saved comfortably.

Back at the other end, Krul dived at full stretch to keep out a Lucas Leiva header in the 36th minute, but the flag was up against the Liverpool midfielder for offside.

Newcastle appealed for a penalty two minutes later, as Ayoze Perez tumbled in the box under a challenge from Lovren. Replays suggested Lovren had made contact with the Newcastle man, but referee Lee Mason waved away the visitors' claims.

The visitors came close to scoring an equaliser twice in the closing moments of the first half. In the 45th minute, Perez flicked a header towards the top corner from a Daryl Janmaat cross, but Mignolet scrambled to claw the ball away acrobatically. In stoppage time, Abeid fired over the bar from a promising position inside the box.

Newcastle had finished the first 45 minutes as the more dangerous side, and that superiority spilled over into the second half. Gabriel Obertan headed off target in the 48th minute, and Moussa Sissoko forced Mignolet into a save five minutes later.

Jon Super/Associated Press

But for all of their pressure to start the second half, the visitors almost came undone due to a defensive mistake soon after. There seemed to be little danger when Newcastle defender Ryan Taylor moved to intercept a Henderson cross in the 56th minute, but Taylor mishit his attempted clearance into the path of Sterling. With only Krul to beat, Sterling shot wide of the post, spurning a glorious chance to double Liverpool's lead.

It turned out not to matter, though, as the hosts netted their second in the 70th minute. The chance developed slowly as Newcastle failed to clear a corner. Liverpool's Emre Can attempted to cross into the goalmouth, but his pass flew to Mike Williamson, who knocked the ball down to the pitch inside the box. Allen reacted quickly, knocking in a snap shot high at the near post.

It was nearly 3-0 two minutes later, but Lovren sent his powerful header over the bar following a Liverpool corner. 

Newcastle went down to 10 men in the 83rd minute. Sissoko, who had drawn a yellow card just five minutes earlier, saw red for his second bookable offence, a poor, potentially leg-breaking challenge on Leiva.

The dismissal effectively killed off Newcastle's resistance, and Liverpool were able to see out the victory in relative comfort.

Grades

Starting XI	Rating
Substitutes	Rating
Simon Mignolet	7.7
Glen Johnson	7.5
Emre Can	7.2
Dejan Lovren	7.6
Alberto Moreno	7.1
Jordan Henderson	7.1
Lucas Leiva	8.1
Joe Allen	8.0
Jordon Ibe	6.5
Philippe Coutinho	8.3
Raheem Sterling	7.7
Fabio Borini (for Ibe, 58')	6.0
Rickie Lambert (for Sterling, 89')	6.0

Starting XI	Rating
Substitutes	Rating
Tim Krul	6.9
Ryan Taylor	6.5
Daryl Janmaat	6.3
Mike Williamson	5.7
Vurnon Anita	6.9
Mehdi Abeid	6.5
Jack Colback	6.7
Gabriel Obertan	6.6
Moussa Sissoko	6.2
Remy Cabella	6.7
Ayoze Perez	6.7
Jonas Gutierrez (for Obertan, 67')	6.0
Adam Armstrong (for Abeid, 75')	6.1
Yoan Gouffran (for Perez, 86')	6.2

Reaction

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, via Sky Sports (h/t BBC Sport):

"

I thought we showed attacking intent in the game, won the ball back quickly and controlled the game until the last five six minutes in the first half, when we started to give the ball away too cheaply.

I think we were fortunate not to give away a penalty, but thankfully it didn't go against us. Joe Allen is very much an unsung player for us. He does a lot of the dirty work for us, pressing the ball excellently and great in possession.

Manchester City have maybe opened up the door a wee bit and if we keep winning our games we will see what will happen but I am sure that there will be plenty of twists and turns to come still.

"

Newcastle manager John Carver, via BBC Sport:

"

Once we went 1-0 down we seemed to grow in the game. We were on the front foot and we don't get a major decision. I keep coming in front of the camera and talking about it but everyone out there has seen it is a penalty. Even Brendan said straight away it is a penalty.

I will phone Mike Riley tomorrow, he will probably agree but it gets us nothing.

We have six cup finals and we need to pick up some pints by hook or by crook. That is why our fans are going to be important to us. I have enough belief in this group of lads and if we see anything near what I saw tonight there won't be a problem.

"

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