Back to Liverpool-page. Liverpool: James, Jones (Rush 86), McAteer, Wright (Harkness
45), Collymore, Barnes, Scales, Redknapp, McManaman, Fowler,
Ruddock.
Subs Not Used: Warner.
Goals: Fowler 2, 55, Collymore 68, 90.
Newcastle: Srnicek, Beresford, Howey (Peacock 82), Lee,
Beardsley, Ferdinand, Asprilla, Ginola, Watson, Batty, Albert.
Subs Not Used: Clark, Gillespie.
Booked: Beardsley, Ferdinand, Batty.
Goals: Ferdinand 10, Ginola 14, Asprilla 57.
Att: 40,702
Ref: M D Reed (Birmingham).
I've just figured out why I love Liverpool so much. After this performance over Newcastle, I know why. All my predjudice against Collymore that he was a bad signing disappeared after his second goal and all the "crap" about Ruddock being a fat little(!?!?) unsportsmanlike bastard was swapped with tearfully "yes" when he made Asprilla eat grass once in a while. "Oh, Liverpool I REALLY love you!"
The game started great for Liverpool. Just after 2 minutes Fowler made his 25th leaguegoal of the season after a Collymore cross. It all started when Mark Wright played the ball up the right and Fowler went inside to pass to Redknapp who played a cross to Rob Jones on the far left. Jones hit the ball first time to Stan who advanced past Watson. He made a perfect cross into the field which made Srnicek hesitate for a few moments too long and there was Fowler, who headed the ball downward into the net. But after the early goal Newcastle awoke and started pushing. In the 10th minute, Asprilla pulled the ball past a confused Ruddock and played back to Ferdinand who was standing unmarked in front of the goal. A neat little touch gave him the crucial advantage and the shot flew past James' shoulder and into the netroof. Four minutes later Rob Jones lost possession at the Liverpool-right to Lee who played Ferdinand on the halfway-line. Ferdinand spotted Ginola making a run on the left, and he played a diagonal pass in the open gap. McAteer was too far behind to catch up and the Frenchman put the pall past James with a chilly touch. Then the rest of the half died out with a few half-chances for both teams. David Batty was booked for a crushing tackle on McManaman, but the match was never to be a unfair one. I for one was glad when half-time came.
In the second half Evans swapped Wright with Harkness and put Ruddock in central-defence. "Oh-my-god, I thought, how many freekicks and penalties are we going to get against us." After just a few seconds my theory came into practice as Robert Lee advanced into the penalty-area (where's Ruddock??). The grass flew into the air as Ruddock tried a late tackle but he missed (phew!), and Lee was through on goal, but fortunately he hit James in the stomach. After this earth-shaking experience, Liverpool attacked strongly. McAteer showed brilliance and McManaman woke from his first-half rest. Scales was very close on a corner but Fowler came in the way. Then in the 55th minute James started the play with a throw to McAteer. Ginola was too late and could only watch as McAteer played the ball high over to McManaman who received the ball with a exellent touch and went towards Albert who was forced to back up. With four - 4 - Newcastle players being attracted to the ball McManaman passed calmly to Fowler who was rushing into the penalty-area, and the rest is history. A lovely goal from Fowler, his 35th in all competitions. But Newcastle stroke back; only two minutes later Beardsley combined with Lee to set Asprilla through on goal, and he scored with the outside of his foot. The goal could have been disallowed for offside, if it hadn't been for Scales trying to mark two attackers while the rest of the defence went out.
But Liverpool stroke back, this time with the 8,5 million signing, Stan Collymore. McAteer came up the Liverpool-right as he had done quite a few times this day, and laid a precise ball to Collymore on the far post who just had to finish it off with an easy tap-in. Now, things began to happen. The Kop was going mad and Liverpool was driven on this. But as Evans said after the match: "But to be fair, it was kamikaze defending. Managers would be dead within six months if every game was like that." And Newcastle was very dangerous on counter-attacks. Robbie Fowler had nearly made Steve Howey score an own-goal, and in the other end Ferdinand missed a "100 %"-chance alone with James after Harkness had been hooked off. But then 2 minutes on added time the decision came, after an intense pressure from Liverpool, Collymore shot Liverpool to the victory and the ever-growing-hope of a league-title. Barnes and the substituted Rush had combined in the penalty-area and they couldn't decide who was going to score and then Barnes saw Collymore on the left, who shot a precise ball past Srnicek in the Newcastle-goal. But to be fair I think Liverpool have just laid the league-title in Manchester's hands......
James: A few strange actions in the field. Anyrate a very good match by the future England-goalie, who can't be blamed for any of Newcastle's goals. 8/10
Jones: Disappeared on the left-wing. Was anonymous for the whole match exept the participation in Liverpool's first goal. 5/10
Wright: Looked like he had full control in the defence in the first half, but personally I don't find him too "active". Was correctly substituted in the break with Harkness. 6/10
Scales: A good match by him. Had good control on Ginola and Ferdinand on the right in cooperation with McAteer. But the offside-mistake on Newcastle's third pulled down. 7/10
Ruddock: One of the fighting men in the match. Gave everything in all tackles and duels. (Too much, I hear you say) Was on thin ice a few times in the first half but played much better in the second. Had a few crushing tackles on Asprilla. (Notice Ruddock going for the referee's balls after a clash with Ferdinand.) ;-) 8/10
McAteer: Maybe the best of the lot. Outstanding second half together with McManaman. Very good in defence against Ginola in second half not that good against him in the first half. 9/10
Barnes: Looks a little bit unmotivated. Walking around making sure everything goes right. He has self said that his role is as a deep-midfield, but isn't he supposed to play the ball up in the field not backwards, which he did most of the time. Had one shot on goal in the second half which Srnicek denied with his finger-tips. 7/10
Redknapp: Suffers through lack of matches. Is wasn't the "gool-old" Redknapp we saw on the field against Newcastle. Did a fine defensive work in the second half, but he wasn't sharp enough in attack. 6/10
McManaman: Things didn't go McManaman's way in the first half, but in the second it was "McManaman-quality". He still does what he does best: Walking with the ball and creating chances. Good example the second goal for Liverpool where he takes four Newcastle players with him to set Fowler free in the area, and....GOAL! Very good match! 9/10
Collymore: He's improving to be a valuable player for Liverpool. A good cross to Liverpool's first and two goals by himself. It looks like he lacks some confidence in what he's doing, for example the "shot" he had in the second half which landed on the Kop. 8/10
Fowler: What can I say. That man is deadly. Never leave home without him! Two great goals and a good performance on the field. 9/10
Harkness: Came in for Wright which ment that Ruddock had to plat in central-defence. He didn't get too much to work with, since Newcastle's play was mostly on the Liverpool-right. 7/10
Rush: Had maybe 8 minutes to play and was involved in Liverpool's last goal. But it's too short a period to set a mark.
Any comments: Then email me. And please do so....
This report was written based on impressions through the TV-set, so I can't take responsibility for any misjudgements. Thanx for reading. Please give me response!