Match Report: Newcastle 1, Liverpool 5

Liverpool stretched their lead at the top of the Barclay's Premiership, at least until this afternoon, to four points with a thoroughly convincing thrashing of Newcastle United.

Newcastle started the day with the news that owner Mike Ashley had taken the club off the market and was once again looking forward to running the club with his own vision, but if this is a sign of things to come, the Newcastle fans won't be overly enthusiastic about the news.

After a bright opening couple of minutes for Newcastle, mainly involving Damien Duff and Danny Guthrie, Liverpool exerted absolute control over the game and it only seemed a matter of when, not if, they would beat Shay Given and start to rack up a cricket score.

However, with the Irish stopper in inspirational form, it took just over half an hour for the Reds to break the deadlock.

Sami Hyypia went close twice with headers, Steven Gerrard flashed a shot wide and both Dirk Kuyt and Lucas Leiva had shots blocked on the line.

Just after the half-hour mark though, it was captain Gerrard who finally beat Given after a flowing move involving Javier Mascherano and the lively Yossi Benayoun.

Gerrard's firm strike hit the inside of the post and into the back of the net, to the delight of the traveling support.

Soon after it was two, Gerrard's corner met firmly by the head of Hyypia and the big Finn was not to be denied this time, his bullet header beating Given and N'Zogbia on the line.

Liverpool could quite easily have been 5 up by halftime, but instead Newcastle threw themselves an undeserved lifeline right before the whistle when Guthrie's corner was met by the head of David Edgar, the young defender glancing past Reina in the Liverpool goal.

Newcastle came out after the break with a more attacking shape with Jonas and N'Zogbia employed as wing-backs and Ameobi coming on to replace Enrique to partner Owen up front.

But it was the Magpie's defensive frailties which were exposed yet again only five minutes into the second half when another corner caused havoc in their area, Ryan Babel eventually stabbing the ball home from a yard out after four or five defenders failed to clear.

Geremi, after he came on for Butt, and Guthrie both tested Reina from free kicks but in truth Newcastle never looked like coming back into the game as Liverpool showed impressive attacking impetus for the rest of the game.

Gerrard made it four, cutting in from the right after a truly delightful through pass from Lucas Leiva and clipping it over the on-rushing Given, and when substitute Ngog was tripped by Edgar, Xabi Alonso made no mistake from the penalty spot.

It could have been even more for the Reds as Ngog, Babel and Lucas all went close late on, but a five-goal mauling of Newcastle ensured that Liverpool stayed top of the table going into the New Year and, on this form, are really showing that they are genuine contenders to be challenging in four months' time.

In a final bonus for Liverpool, Martin Skrtel was also given the last 10 minutes or so of the game, marking his comeback from injury after several months out.

Full time from St. James' Park, Newcastle United 1, Liverpool 5.