SOCCER/Newcastle 1 Liverpool 5:CRITICS OF Liverpool claim Rafael Benitez' side are too cautious to be worthy champions but Newcastle United certainly succeeded in unlocking their inner extrovert.
When it became apparent that Benitez was fielding Dirk Kuyt as a lone striker and leaving Robbie Keane and Xabi Alonso on a bench still lacking Fernando Torres, Liverpool's manager once again appeared guilty of frustrating tactical conservatism.
In this case, though, appearances proved hugely deceptive. Granted it appeared somewhat mean not to offer an increasingly pensive-looking Keane even a late cameo but generally Liverpool played with a refreshing, rarely seen freedom.
Improvising at will, they had been encouraged into dropping their customary guard by the ineptitude of an injury-debilitated Newcastle side who proved incapable of coping with the outstanding Steven Gerrard's deployment in a free role behind Kuyt.
Fabio Capello may have recently told an Italian publication that Liverpool were the least attractive of England's Champions League sides but on a day when Gerrard scored twice and created two further goals, some of their football was mesmerising.
A Liverpool formation apparently built for sneaking an odd goal and possibly securing an away win on the counter-attack instead morphed into exhibition mode. Yet before this is hailed as a watershed for the Merseysiders it should be stressed that Newcastle totally failed to rise to the occasion on a day when Fabricio Coloccini and Danny Guthrie particularly looked out of their depth.
"We feel we have it in us to be title winners," said Sammy Lee, standing in for Benitez as the Spaniard continues his recovery from kidney stones.
"We've been criticised for playing certain teams at times but it's a squad game," he said. "We plan to win every game, we always plan to score goals, it's just that it doesn't always work out."
The only puzzle yesterday was how it took Liverpool more than 30 minutes to score.
Newcastle owner Mike Ashley had earlier announced the club is no longer for sale and suggested the Toon Army should embrace the new year with optimism. "Now is the time for everyone who holds the club close to their hearts to do just that," he said. "I have withdrawn Newcastle from the market and for me 2009 will be the year when we drive the club forward together."
This, though, was a poignant day when wistful Geordies looked backwards.
Newcastle's defence had been playing as if mounting a four-man go-slow in protest at Ashley's decision and, but for Shay Given's heroics, could have been six down before Gerrard broke the deadlock. Already benefiting from Kuyt's selfless flicks and decoy runs, the imperious England midfielder finally gave his side a deserved lead, lashing Yossi Benayoun's low centre in off a post.
Sami Hyypia then headed a Gerrard corner beyond Given as Coloccini's feet remained rooted to the ground. Things were becoming so embarrassingly one-sided that Liverpool generously switched off as Guthrie swung in a corner right-footed and David Edgar - otherwise terrorised by Ryan Babel - thumped a header past Jose Reina.
It proved yet another false Geordie dawn. Indeed, despite the presence of several defenders and Given on the goalline, Babel somehow forced a rebound from another Gerrard corner into the net early in the second period.
Watching from the stand, Benitez proved sufficiently relaxed to remove his headset, temporarily break off communications with Lee and pose for photographs with a Liverpool-supporting mother and daughter. Benitez even managed a smile for his old Anfield political enemy Rick Parry when Lucas conjured Gerrard's second with the pass of the game from near the halfway line.
Connecting with the Brazilian's dispatch, Gerrard surged past Coloccini and enticed Given - a goalkeeper who generally prefers to stay on his line - out into his area before delicately clipping home the most adroit of right-foot finishes. Soon afterwards Gerrard was withdrawn but there was still time for Xabi Alonso, on for Benayoun, to convert the penalty earned following Edgar's trip on David Ngog.
"Liverpool were different class, we were threadbare but they played some very attractive football," said a magnanimous Joe Kinnear. "And Gerrard was magnificent; that's the best individual performance I've seen in a long time."
As their team conceded the fourth of five Liverpool goals the home fans launched into choruses of Only One Bobby Robson and Walking In A Robson Wonderland in honour of cancer-stricken Bobby Robson who was present.
"We've threatened to do this for a while," said a pleased Gerrard, "and we should have scored a lot more. This is the best team I've played in," he said. "We've given ourselves a great chance of winning the league."
