Efficiency is not a quality to be sniffed at in championship contenders. Liverpool have not conceded a goal since Kevin Campbell scored for Everton five matches and 445 minutes ago.
Their next game, at home to Leeds United, will offer a better test of the team's true potential than this, but Manchester United came here a fortnight ago and lost and this was Newcastle's first home defeat for six months.
Manager Gerard Houllier used a telling phrase afterwards - "we look very ready for it" - and this was the performance of a disciplined, organised team who are indeed ready.
"Strong, solid and professional" were the first words from Houllier's lips, and that offered the explanation for the clipping of Newcastle's width. Laurent Robert had caused Gary Neville much anxiety but Jamie Carragher snuffed the Frenchman out.
On the other Newcastle flank Nolberto Solano was taken off. Only Craig Bellamy, looking more and more a Premiership player, caused Sami Hyypia and co any trouble. When Bellamy did break through the first red line - most threateningly in the 78th minute - Hyypia was there to clear.
"Like four bloody oak trees" was Bobby Robson's assessment of the Liverpool defence. It was a compliment wrapped up in exasperation. "The four at the back were not out of position once all day. They're a mean team, a big team - Hyypia, Carragher, Biscan."
Asked if Liverpool are more credible title contenders than last season, when they finished 11 points behind a decelerating Manchester United, Robson replied: "Oh yes. They'll be in at the end."
As the Newcastle manager went on to say, Liverpool did this without the suspended Steven Gerrard and the injured Michael Owen.
Without Owen, Houllier chose Robbie Fowler ahead of Jari Litmanen four days after publicly questioning Fowler's form, fitness and attitude.
Fowler responded with a feisty, committed effort that will have pleased the watching Tord Grip as much as Houllier. Emile Heskey was similarly conscientious. This could well be the pair Nikos Dabizas will face at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Houllier did not want to talk about Fowler but Robson said: "He looked a bit fitter. I think he needed the 90 minutes. And what a goal he scored." This was not a new one from the Bobby Robson unintentional joke-book - he called Laurent Robert Lauren Bacall on Wednesday. Straight after half-time Fowler beautifully finished a flick from Heskey, only to be called offside. It was probably the striker's best work, although Fowler also supplied the neat pass from which Danny Murphy - another Englishman Grip will have noted - ended the game in the 86th minute.
Once John Arne Riise had seized on Robert Lee's second-minute error, nutmegged Andy Griffin and drilled an unstoppable left-foot shot past Shay Given, Liverpool played with relative comfort even if Newcastle made them work tirelessly.
Only once did Robert evade Carragher to deliver a centre that worried Liverpool. It came in the 40th minute but Clarence Acuna fluffed it.
Between then and the Bellamy moment there was a lot of midfield scuffling punctuated by the odd red breakaway. Given made a fast save from Fowler in the 16th minute, Heskey miscontrolled a Fowler touch following an exquisite pass from Gary McAllister and Murphy rounded Andy O'Brien before sending a shot narrowly wide.
Meanwhile, the back held firm. There was a lot of talk about Houllier's French revolution when he arrived at Anfield three years ago. But it is a new resolution the Frenchman has installed lately.
NEWCASTLE: Given; Griffin, O'Brien, Dabizas, Elliott, Solano (Ameobi 73), Lee, Acuna (Speed 57), Robert, Shearer, Bellamy. Subs Not Used: Harper, Lua-Lua, Distin. Booked: Bellamy.
LIVERPOOL: Dudek; Vignal, Hyypia, Henchoz, Carragher, Biscan, McAllister, Murphy, Riise, Heskey, Fowler. Subs Not Used: Redknapp, Barmby, Kirkland, Wright, Litmanen. Booked: Carragher, Henchoz, Fowler, Murphy. Goals: Riise 3, Murphy 86.
Referee: G Barber (Tring).
