A goal of stunning quality from the 18-year-old Michael Owen took Liverpool to third place in the Premier League last night and had Robbie Fowler captured just a fraction of his pre-Christmas form they would now be Manchester United's closest challengers.
Liverpool's third victory over Kenny Dalglish's team in 24 days - they had already won on Tyneside in both league and League Cup - brought them level on points with Blackburn Rovers and both are five behind the champions, whose 1-0 defeat at Southampton on Monday has offered a glimmer of hope for those immediately below them.
Alan Shearer's second appearance for Newcastle after injury, this time for the final half-hour, had Anfield holding its breath as the Liverpool defence started to gasp for air while the goalkeeping of David James failed to inspire confidence from start to finish.
However, Shearer's presence alone did not add quality to determination and the late entrance of Temuri Ketsbaia, who scored Saturday's last-minute winner against Bolton, could not deny Liverpool victory. Even so the Georgian ended the match with a 30-yard drive through a thicket of legs which skidded off the pitch in front of James, who fumbled the ball as Kop hearts missed a collective beat. At least the Anfield advertising boards were spared a celebratory kicking.
Owen apart, Liverpool had reason only for qualified rejoicing. Much of the performance was far from distinguished. Too many players were below par and the passing rhythms were frequently off-key.
Fowler was not only off target with two chances he would normally have taken comfortably but reacted sluggishly to the movement around him. The midfield was industrious but uninspired, with Paul Ince, Jamie Redknapp and Oyvind Leonhardsen eventually being upstaged by Robert Lee and Warren Barton.
Over the last two seasons this fixture had produced thrilling 4-3 victories for Liverpool, the first an attacking extravaganza complemented by mutually poor defending, the second more a result of James's generosity after Newcastle had gone 3-0 down before half-time. Evans, who memorably described the earlier game as "kamikaze stuff," was now grateful that his team had not fallen on its sword.
Six victories and a draw have made Liverpool serious challengers, not so much for the title but for second place, which would put them into next season's qualifying round for the Champions League. On last night's evidence they lack Blackburn's all-round consistency but will have the opportunity to refute this when Roy Hodgson's team go to Anfield on Saturday week.
With most of their scoring power among the substitutes and Darren Peacock and David Batty suspended, Newcastle were below strength fore and aft. Kenny Dalglish's response was to play John Barnes in a lone role up front against his old team before giving way to Shearer, detail Aaron Hughes to track down Steve McManaman, and present Liverpool with a mass of bodies.
Owen's goal after 16 minutes, his 12th of the season, promised Anfield a decisive win. There was a suspicion of a foul, but no whistle, as Ince won back possession from Jon Tomasson before finding Jason McAteer, who floated a centre beyond the last Newcastle defender. Owen controlled the ball with a touch and then beat Hislop with a beautifully-struck shot which went in off the crossbar.
Just before the half-hour James charged beyond his penalty area to stop Tomasson and then failed to hold the low shot from Gillespie which followed. Tomasson ran the ball into the net but was narrowly offside.
Liverpool were in urgent need of another goal. Fowler might have provided it three minutes before the hour when he had time and space to compose himself as he ran onto McManaman's return pass. But his aim was confused and the ball flew high past the left-hand post.
Liverpool: James, McAteer, Babb, McManaman, Leonhardsen, Fowler, Redknapp, Harkness, Ince, Owen, Matteo. Subs Not Used: Jones, Berger, Carragher, Riedle, Friedel. Booked: McAteer, Babb, McManaman. Goal: Owen 17.
Newcastle UTD: Hislop, Barton, Beresford, Lee, Barnes (Shearer 61), Pearce, Tomasson, Gillespie, Watson, Pistone, Hughes. Subs Not Used: Given, Rush, Ketsbaia, Terrier. Booked: Barton.
Referee: G P Barber (Pyrford).
