Just as it looked as if Liverpool's suspect home form would turn out the lights on their Championship challenge, Nicolas Anelka produces an electric display to restore full power at Anfield. Two strikes from Danny Murphy and Didi Hamann's first goal in over a year was enough to dispatch a toothless Newcastle side, but it will be the virtuoso display from the enigmatic Frenchman which will attract most of the headlines.
As darkness descended on Anfield 5 minutes before kick off due to the floodlight failure, Reds fans were given an extra 30 minutes to salivate at the prospect of Anelka, Owen and Emile Heskey in the starting XI for the first time since Anelka joined the Reds on loan. It was what the Anfield audience had clamoured for all season; a three pronged attack in an offence minded team - albeit with Heskey reverting to the left wing role in which he excelled as a substitute in the Merseyside Derby.
If recent form was anything to go by in this fixture, then Michael Owen would be leading the reds to a comfortable victory. Unfortunately for Newcastle - who for once had the brains to defend a little deeper against the European Footballer of the year - Anelka, had not read the script and with a complete display of deft touches, powerful running, great passing and venomous shooting all that was lacking from his performance was the goal he so richly deserved.
For half an hour however Newcastle were able to frustrate the Reds, who had two decent penalty shouts turned down in the opening third, one as Owen was seemingly bundled to the floor when clean through on Given and a second as Given himself clumsily brought down Anelka for the most obvious of penalty claims but Mr Winter turned them both away.
It was a tough night for the 'larger than life' official as he endured a series of derogatory chants from both sets of fans during the course of the 90 minutes. Due to his Middlesboro roots the away fans saw fit to label him a "fat smoggy Bastard" and not to be outdone the Kop weighed in with an equally amusing "are you Jordan in disguise?" in reference to our Jeffery's cup size.
Chances continued to flow - like a double Scotch through Georgie Best -¤ for the Reds with the Frenchman usually in the thick of things, the most notable being a ferocious drive from a tight angle, which Shay Given spectacularly turned on to the post. This set the scene for the Anelka master class which was to follow.
Liverpool's opener on 32 minutes was a goal which would have our critics scribbling with delight, faster than you can say "counter-attacking". Stephane Henchoz's first time throughball may have been delightful and Murphy's finish equally so but this move was all about Anelka.
Anelka held off two ankle biting Newcastle defenders as he surged towards the area, leaving them in his wake as he delivered a supreme cross for Murphy who finished with aplomb from 12 yards after looking second-favourite to reach the cross. At the time it seemed a little harsh that Anelka's name was sung before Danny's, but for once I could see the Kops logic.
Liverpool wouldn't be Liverpool without providing us with a few moments of anxiety. A curling free kick on the edge of the area caused havoc in the Liverpool defence with Xavier - retaining his place in the side ahead of Stephen Wright - somehow getting his head in the way when it seemed a goal was imminent, and Acuna causing row 25 of the Kop to cover up as he skied Carl Cort's salvaging cross.
1-0 at half time seemed to be a fair reflection on the game at, the only surprise being Michael Owen's failure to score against Newcastle yet again. However the attention given to Michael by the Newcastle defence was giving his strike partner all sorts of space. If these two remain together up-front, the possibilities are endless. How could any defence keep BOTH of these men quiet?
It is possible for a good, well organised defence to keep Michael Owen quiet, but all of your efforts must go in to looking after him. When playing United if you keep that Goalhanging twat quiet then you're doing ok, at Arsenal it's Henry, Leeds-Fowler. No other club in the league, maybe even Europe has a strike force to compare with ours.
Liverpool came out of the traps just as impressively in the second period and within four minutes should have doubled their advantage as a stretching Emile Heskey shot over following Smicer's wicked cross. Anfield didn't have to wait much longer for the second, with Murphy negotiating his way into the penalty area and hitting a shot which Given could only help on it's way into the Kop net.
One felt that the crowd was again beginning to lose patience with SuperDan as he gave the ball away on the edge of the area, fortunately the ball broke for Vladi who returned the ball to Murphy who made no mistake second time around. A nice touch from Smicer during the celebrations was to pull at the back of Danny's shirt and motion to his name. Nice one lads. Owen nearly got in on the act two minutes later as he broke clear and forced Shay Given into an excellent stop.
It seemed as though Newcastle had brought themselves back into the game with half an hour to go as Carl Cort nodded Newcastle back within a single goal of the reds, sending the travelling Geordies crazy. Liverpool's task was now going to be harder than expected to take the three points in this one. But waitÊÊ.. Please stop swinging your shirt around your head Mr Obese Drunken Geordie prickÊÊ your joy is about to be very short lived. Carl Cort's handball, proved to be the only way in which Newcastle could beat Jerzy. Cheat.
Liverpool experienced their own disappointments tonight with Michael Owen limping off on 71 minutes with a tight hamstring and he now seems set to miss the vital Champions League match in the Nou Camp next week. Owen was replaced by Jari Litmanen - with Anelka cup-tied the man who will replace Owen in the line up next Wednesday - to rapturous applause. The poor treatment of the popular Finn has set him firmly in the hearts of Liverpool fans and his talent deserves more than 10-20 minute cameo roles at the end of games. But on tonight's evidence who could argue at his exclusion from the starting 11?
Smicer was again involved in Liverpool's sealer as he - refusing to shoot himself - laid the ball off for Hamann who hit a sweet curling drive from 20 yards past Given's outstretched left hand. It's about time Didi got in on the act - his last goal coming in the 3-0 defeat of Rotherham in last seasons third round FA Cup game - and in recent weeks he has been getting closer, Galatasary at home most notably, and with the amount of howlers he seems to produce it was nice to see one nestle in the corner for a change.
But on another night when "Liverpool fired a warning to their title contenders" (© The Tabloid press) The only 'mood' a certain world class Frenchman was in was to destroy all that was in front in him and the only trouble he caused was for a hapless Newcastle defence which attempted to confront him. So if this is what we can expect from the "moody, trouble maker" then as the old saying goesÊÊ..sign 'im up.
Team: Jerzy Dudek; Abel Xavier, Stephane Henchoz, Sami Hyypia, John Arne Riise; Vladimir Smicer (Nick Barmby), Danny Murphy, Didi Hamann, Emile Heskey; Nicolas Anelka, Michael Owen (Jari Litmanen):
