Murphy the spark as lights dim on Newcastle hopes

A MATCH that began more black than white finished red all over here last night. After Anfield had been plunged into darkness by a power failure which delayed the kick-off for half-an-hour, Liverpool were quickest to spark into life and tore into Newcastle. Danny Murphy lent substance to Liverpool's high-speed style with his expertly taken goals while Dietmar Hamann's 75th-minute goal also delighted the Kop.
Along with Hamann's fine strike and Murphy's productive surges from central midfield, Anfield thrilled to another selfless contribution by Nicolas Anelka, although they were aghast to see Michael Owen limp off and head straight down the tunnel.

Fuses have blown all over the Premiership this season but, until this embarrassing blip in Anfield's electrical circuit, only among angry players and irate managers. But when the lights finally came back on, there was certainly no doubting the power coursing through Liverpool and particularly Murphy, who scored twice within 50 minutes.

The England midfielder was terrific, breaking from the deep to take his goals with style, the first a real poacher's strike and the second after a weaving run into the box. Sven-Goran Eriksson, sitting in the directors' box, smiled at the neat finishing.

Anelka made the first of Murphy's goals, after 32 minutes, and was a non-stop problem for the visitors' defence. With Anelka partnering Michael Owen and Emile Heskey and Vladimir Smicer flying down the flanks, Liverpool's quick feet raced all over Newcastle's half. The visitors had Speed, Liverpool had speed in abundance. Anelka was swiftly into his stride, bringing a fine save from Shay Given who pushed his shot on to the crossbar, following a neat 18th-minute build-up between Heskey and Smicer.

Moments later, Anelka was showing Nikos Dabizas a clean pair of heels again, bringing back memories of the 1998 FA Cup final, as the former Arsenal striker darted through only for Given to excel again.

Now it was Owen's turn to step up through the gears, the England flier making rapid ground down the right before lifting a long cross to the far post. Heskey met the ball firmly but Given and Andy O'Brien combined well to clear.

Although Newcastle pieced together some attractive moves, particularly when the ball was at the darting feet of young Jermaine Jenas, raw, rangy but exuding genuine promise, Liverpool's pressure had to tell. When Anelka beat Dabizas in another straight sprint down the inside-right channel, the danger doubled by the second.

Anelka's cross was low and hard and should really have been cleared by Jenas but the midfielder paused and Liverpool had the glimmer of a chance they needed, Murphy sliding in to place the ball between Given and his right-hand upright.

Newcastle, attacking the Kop, were struggling to trouble Liverpool. Laurent Robert made a couple of encouraging dashes down the right, Nolberto Solano drifted in busily from the right while Jenas occasionally caught the eye.

Newcastle's best chance of the half came from a wickedly swerving Robert free-kick which a startled Jerzy Dudek managed to punch out. Stirred by manager Bobby Robson's half-time words, Newcastle looked more lively after the break with Solano, teed up by Alan Shearer, testing Dudek.

Yet Liverpool should have added a second in the 49th minute when Anelka narrowly failed to connect with Smicer's fine cross. Heskey was too hasty with the rebound, sending the ball spinning in to the Kop. No matter. Two minutes later, Smicer encouraged Murphy to break at pace through the Newcastle defence and the midfielder weaved his way in, kept his composure and shot confidently past Given.
Soon afterwards, Newcastle thought they had pulled one back but Carl Cort was adjudged to have used his hand in turning in Solano's free-kick.

Copyright - The Telegraph