‘A view from the (travelling) Kop’ Newcastle 0-6 Liverpool
I was lucky enough to be offered a ticket for the Newcastle game and after pondering for about 10 seconds as to whether I should go, I gleefully accepted. I am so glad that I did…..
The 3.5 hour drive from the North West was a journey filled with laughter, jokes and banter with the result actually having very little bearing (or so we thought) on the remainder of our season. Discussions as to whether Daniel Sturridge would ‘step up’ and/or whether Newcastle would ‘react’ following their recent trouncing by their NE neighbours Sunderland.
We arrived in good time and frequented a bar that was ‘male orientated’ in regards of the entertainment provided! Happy days. A couple of beers later and we were heading to the impressive St James Park. The climb up into the away end required oxygen such is the height of the stand. It really is very very impressive. We were greeted in the bar at the top by ‘well oiled’ fans who were all determined to have a good day out ‘no matter what’. Little did they know what was coming.
I can only describe the next 90 minutes as utterly brilliant. Liverpool absolutely battered Newcastle in every single department. 1 up after a couple of minutes through Daniel Agger, then 2 up following some brilliant football orchestrated by the impressive Phillipe Coutinho, aided by Sturridge, and finished with ‘ex Sunderland players’ glee by Jordan Henderson. The travelling Kop were in dreamland and enjoyed ‘baiting’ the Newcastle fans who were already leaving the stadium with little more than 20 minutes played. Good job our fans stuck around in Istanbul!
Newcastle missed a ‘plated up’ chance by James Perch and that was the first half done. Utter doiminance by the might redmen.
To be fair to Newcastle and after a couple of substitutions, they started the 2nd half a lot more positive and created a couple of chances. If they had scored one of them it may have been a different match, but they didnt. The third was only a matter of time and it duly arrived following a magical run and pass by Coutinho, allowing Daniel Sturridge to fire into the net. Cue ‘Wriggly arms’.The fourth followed soon after when Stevie released Jordan Henderson free down the left hand side his cross was met and despatched by Sturridge for his deserving second of the game. And that was that. Newcastle simply crumbled, and the red machine crushed all in its path with a briliant display of football aided by the ‘unsung’ performance of Lucas, who had a great game doing the ‘simple stuff’.
It was only a matter of time before we scored our 5th goal, and it was a rare sight to see Fabio Borini celebrating in front of the ecstatic reds fans with his first touch of the game. To be fair to Fabio, it was an excellent finish and the emotion he showed following his goal was great to see.
A Newcastle red card, a 6th goal from an ‘untouched’ Henderson free kick and a mazy run and crossbar strike by Coutinho settled the game with Liverpool fans dancing the conga through the stands and turning the air red as red smoke bombs were let off. It was a proper party in the away end.
Make no mistake, Newcastle gave us the space to play, but did we play. This was an absolute battering and without a shadow of a doubt finished off a terrible week for all associated with LFC in the best manner possible.
Phillipe Coutinho, Daniel Sturridge, Jordan Henderson and Lucas Leiva personally deserve special praise for their performances and if such performances can be replicated on a consistent level, I actually am starting to believe that my beloved club are going to be alright.
Next up is Everton in a match that is eagerly anticpated here in the North West. If we come close to the Newcastle performance, Sunday May 5th could be a beautiful day. We can only hope and pray……….
YNWA.
Thats a brilliantly written piece that really makes you feel like you’re there at the game. Always look forward to these match goers blogs. Proud to be a red!
Lucas was unsung in that one…helped keep things tight at the back and played all the right passes.
Totally true piece – I was at the other end – the quietest I’ve been at Newcastle for many a year. Your lot were spot on and our lot didn’t turn up – hope we can play you next year and not in a cup.
Toon supporter here who was at the game too – yes, it was a fine performance by your lot. I love watching Gerrard – everything he does has energy, is positive and gives a sense of urgency to get forward and put the opponents on the back foot. He’s a true star. But the others were very impressive too – esp Coutinho and Sturridge. I was embarrassed at our capitulation after the third goal – our players didn’t know what to do and at one stage it was like an under 9’s game – whilst the ball was in play on the right, two of our players on the left were standing still and having a chat! If only……..Perch had got his header in and we had taken a chance at the start at the second half – but ifs and buts never won a game; only goals do that. Well done.
Keeping my fingers crossed the toon stay up as after this non-performance as they rank amongst some of the most loyal and passionate supporters in the world and the premiere league wouldn’t feel the same without them. I was pleased with the reds performance and thought Coutinho was superb we have shown glimpses of brilliance this season and I for one am optimistic about our prospects under Rodgers at times we have been spell binding this season, unlucky and sometimes aweful. But the optimist in me sees a golden sky. YNWA
Its nice to get comments from Newcastle fans, and as the chap that wrote this piece I can only say that I hope that you sort out your problems and stay up. Newcastle and Liverpool similar cities for their genuine love of football, so best of luck from me. Reckon Rafa would sort you right out!
Can’t disagree with you there. As a Newcastle supporter i would welcome him with open arms. He’d give us better football and make us more defensively sound. Much more tactically astute than Pardew, he’d already improve what we have his reputation as a manager across Europe will allow him to attract better players.
Yes Rafa would do nicely, thank you. A few up here are naming him as their preferred choice if (when) Pardiola gets the chop. It would be a change for him to be wanted somewhere, wouldn’t it?
He’s always welcomed at our place but yes it would. He’d get you sorted tactically and wouldnt accept the ‘white flag’ being waved a la Saturday. He does like to spend a few quid though! 🙂
Good write up, there’s nothing like a good away day, and man that was probably one of the best ever for Liverpool fans. The toon seem to lack any kind of organisation, it’s as if they are all strangers, horrendous. I really fear that we may go down, cos we have been pish ALL season.
class post! is Pardew threw? sorry, couldnt resist