Liverpool 3-0 Newcastle United

The Reds cruised to an easy victory over Newcastle at Anfield. Goal.com rates the performers...

LIVERPOOL

Reina: 6.5 - Was a virtual bystander all afternoon and did not have a save to make as Newcastle failed to register a single shot on target.

Arbeloa: 7 – Had no problems with either Lovenkrands or Gutierrez and looked a threat going forwards down the right.

Carragher: 6.5 – Cruised through the afternoon and barely had to break into a sweat.

Agger: 7 – Incredibly comfortable at the back and hit a decent shot just before the break which almost flew in.

Aurelio: 7.5 – Kept Martins in check and hit a great cross in for the third goal.

Alonso: 8 – Hit the bar twice with two splendid efforts and deserved a goal for an excellent display. His afternoon ended early after an awful challenge by Barton and Liverpool will hope his injury is not too serious.

Mascherano: 7 – Helped control the midfield and hit a couple of decent shots himself.

Benayoun: 8 - Maintained his good form and scored with a tap in. Looked good in possession and was a tricky customer that Newcastle never really got to grips with.

Gerrard: 7.5 - Whipped in the corner for the second goal and never afraid to shoot. Had several chances to score but, unusually for him, struggled to find the target. Hit the bar late on with a super shot.

Riera: 7 - Some good work down the left, sent in some decent crosses and easily had the beating of Habib Beye.

Kuyt: 8.5 – Very lively and set-up the opener with a good cross before scoring the second with a diving header.

Substitutes

Babel: 6.5 - Added some pace down the left hand side.

Lucas: 7 - Arrived and grabbed the third goal with a smart header.

Ngog: n/a

NEWCASTLE UNITED

Harper: 7.5 - Kept the score down once again. Made countless good saves and easily Newcastle’s best player.

Beye: 5 – Struggled against Riera and culpable for the second goal which Kuyt beat him far too easily to.

Coloccini: 4 – A very weak display and struggled all afternoon against the Liverpool attack and found Gerrard a particularly difficult opponent.

Bassong: 6 – Looked the best of Newcastle’s defenders but made plenty of mistakes, particularly an awful header which presented Gerrard with a shot on goal in the first half.

Duff: 6.5 – Tried his hardest at left-back but was frequently outnumbered. Didn’t give up however, and a great challenge to deny Kuyt late on.

Smith: 5.5 – Chased everything in midfield but allowed Kuyt to nick if off him for the opener.

Butt: 6 - Pumped a few hopeful balls forward but struggled to cope against the likes of Mascherano and Alonso.

Barton: 3 - Back after injury and contributed little. Looked very rusty and rightly sent off after a poor challenge on Alonso.

Martins: 4.5 - Saw little of the ball and was virtually anonymous, particularly in the second half.

Lovenkrands: 5 - Preferred to Michael Owen in attack but did very little and was substituted at half-time.

Viduka: 6 - Guilty for not clearing the ball for the opening goal and was frustratingly and frequently caught off side.

Substitutes

Gutierrez: 5.5 - Arrived at half-time but made little impact.

Owen: n/a

Nolan: n/a

Gill Clark, Goal.com