Two great opportunist goals by Papiss Cisee and some great play by Ben Arfa were too much for Liverpool at St. James’ park today as Newcastle ran out worthy 2-0 winners.
And while Ben Arfa and Papiss Cisse will get the headlines for today’s game, but let’s not forget a certain James Perch, who was absolutely outstanding for Newcastle today in central defense, along with Mike Williamson, and this was Newcastle’s 12th clean sheet of the season and a magnificent result and a good performance from our lads.
What’s in the Newcastle water, that makes James Perch this year look twice the player we thought he was?
It was a great performance from this stalwart Newcastle side, and they are now level on points with Chelsea on 53, and 11 points ahead of a slumping Liverpool side.
Here’s the game as we saw it.
===============
The game kicked off and it was clear that both sides would attack each other and it was a lively opening to the game.
On 8 minutes as a free kick came into the Newcastle box Mike Williamson seemed to foul Andy Carroll as he put his arms around the Gateshead lad but nothing was given.
And then would you believe it but Andy Carroll was clean through on goal and he had only the goalkeeper but beat but instead of shooting he tried to round Tim Krul and Carroll went flying.
Referee Atkinson immediately gave Carroll a yellow card for simulation (diving) and replays showed that Tim Krul never touched Carroll – not to mention the Newcastle fans were loudly booking Carroll.
To tell the truth Andy should have scored if he had shot first time.
Then after 15 minutes a Bellamy cross from the right wring was deflected by Gutierrez, and Tim Krul did well to put the ball over the crossbar for a corner.
And then the next minute a corner by Liverpool was completely missed by Krul, and the ball was going into the goal when it looks like Simpson seemed to handle the ball on the line, but only a corner was give,
Tim Krul was missing some crosses, which was worrying for Newcastle – another let-off for Newcastle, but the good thing was that James Perch was looking solid in defense, cutting out balls and playing the easy pass every time.
And then after 19 minutes Newcastle went ahead.
That mercurial Frenchman got the ball on the half way line, and took it forward and then beat his man, turned to get the ball onto his left foot, and floated in a cross towards Cisse at the far post.
Cisse was marked by Skrtel, but the Senegal striker beat Skretel to the ball and brilliantly headed the ball wide of Riena, and the ball rebounded off the post into the goal.
A great goal by Cisse, but terrible defending from Skrtel, and it was Papiss’ 6th goal in 7 games for Newcastle, and an 8th assist for the great Ben Arfa.
But at this stage Newcastle were lucky to be ahead and had ridden their luck a lot in defense.
On 28 minutes Andy Carroll had another chance but his header from 5 yards out was just over the cross-bar.
On 34 minutes Demba Ba broke at speed through the middle and tried a shot from 30 yards out, which was deflected by Skrtel just wide of Reins’a left hand post for a corner, as the Liverpool goalkeeper scrambled across his line.
After 43 minutes Cisse almost had another headed goal as his header was only inches wide of Reina’s right hand post.
As half time approached Newcastle were doing most of the attacking and then a great sliding tackle from James Perch, who was having another good game for the Magpies, got deserved and sustained applause from the appreciative crowd.
Newcastle were still ahead 1-0 at the break, but Liverpool had threatened throughout the first half and Newcastle would need to tighten up at the back in the second half if they were to keep a clean sheet.
There were no changes made at half time and then on 47 minutes a great Mike Williamson header hit the foot of the post with Reina beaten, and the big man still has to score his first goal for Newcastle.
On 56 minutes a cross into the box saw Tim Krul make a good interception just in front of Craig Bellamy but Liverpool were pressing hard mainly down their right wing against Gutierrez.
A ball to Andy Carroll was nicely headed back to Tim Krul by Mike Williamson.
And then after 58 minutes, a great move from Ben Arfa and Cabaye saw the ball crossed into the box, and Cisse was onto it.
Papiss Cisse after scoring – it feels so good!
Papiss waited and then hit the ball into the back of the net with his right foot for his second goal of the game for Newcastle – and his 7th goal in 7 games for Newcastle.
Andy Carroll was taken off after being given a harrassing time by the Newcastle fans, and he looked furious and went straight down the tunnel.
That will teach him to leave his home town club – a no-no for any Geordie lad.
On 75 minutes Shola Ameobi came on for Papiss Cisse, who was given a great reception by the Newcastle crowd – 7 goals in 7 games for Newcastle – what a player this lad is.
And then on 79 minutes Mike Williamson had a header saved by Reina and then Reina lost his cool and got a straight red card.
Reina was stupid as he went over to Perch and butted him in the face – it was a stupid thing to do a- nd Reina deserved to be sent off.
Why didn’t we get a penalty – since it was a foul by Reina in the box?
This was a great win by Newcastle and they looked a very good side and are now on 53 points after 31 games, level with Chelsea and are 10 points ahead of Liverpool and 9 points ahead of 7th placed Everton.
Alan Pardew brought off Ben Arfa on 90 minutes for Davide Santon to great applause fom the Newcastle crowd, as the Frenchman again showed what great form he is in as he had a big hand, as it were, in each of Cisse’s goals.
Alan Pardew was obviously delighted with the French lad, who is now showing just what a great player he is.
A terrific performance by Newcastle and James Perch had a terrific game – and of course so did Ben Arfa – oh and Cisse, who got two more goals wasn’t too bad either.
Teams:
Newcastle United (4-3-3): Tim Krul; Danny Simpson, Mike Williamson, James Perch, Jonas Gutierrez (c); Danny Guthrie, Cheick Tiote, Yohan Cabaye; Hatem Ben Arfa, Papiss Cisse, Demba Ba
Substitutes: Rob Elliot, Shane Ferguson, Davide Santon, Dan Gosling, Ryan Taylor, Haris Vuckic, Shola Ameobi
Liverpool (4-4-2): Pepe Reina; Jon Flanagan, Jamie Carragher, Martin Skrtel, Jose Enrique; Jonjo Shelvey, Steven Gerrard (c), Jay Spearing, Craig Bellamy; Andy Carroll, Luis Suarez
Substitutes: Alexander Doni, Fabio Aurelio, Sebastian Coates, Maxi Rodriguez, Jordan Henderson, Stewart Downing, Dirk Kuyt
34 comments so far
archaeomag
Apr 1, 2012 at 3:46 PM
Comment #1Those goals make me laugh – such good fun!
Thump
Apr 1, 2012 at 3:48 PM
Comment #2‘Arry: “Swansea, Norwich and Newcastle have been fantastic, Newcastle have to be team of the year.”
…did… did ‘Arry just compliment us…?
jeraziah
Apr 1, 2012 at 3:48 PM
Comment #3Great play today, Ben Arfa Cisse Ba really good. Perchy did a solid display at the back, im impressed! HOWAY THE LADS!!!
Ben-Arfa11
Apr 1, 2012 at 3:49 PM
Comment #4*Carroll booed
*caroll dived to get a penalty and if he was honest would of scored got rightly booked
*enrique booed
*enrique in goal
*liverpool goalkeeper sent off
*clean sheet
*perch like nesta in his prime
*cisse keeps scoring
*tiote and cabaye keep gerrard quiet
*we go 11 points clear of liverpool
i couldnt of dreamed of a better scenerio if i tryed
the only downside was that i wish we tryed to score past enrique it would be dead funny
so proud of newcastle today and i also placed a bet on newcastle to beat liverpool today to
so its all great
perch my hero 😛
Spuggy
Apr 1, 2012 at 3:49 PM
Comment #5Haha perfection, Carroll off in a huff, Enrique owned by HBA, then ends up in goal. Without their keeper for 3 games. Cisse lovely play, guthrie/cabye/tiote looked good in CM.
Perfection!
winaldo1990
Apr 1, 2012 at 3:49 PM
Comment #6He scores when he wants
He scores when he wants
Pappis cisse
He scores when he wants
toonarmydownsouth
Apr 1, 2012 at 3:50 PM
Comment #7Really huge win for us fantastic stuff all the lads put a great shift in
Sorry but a repost
Apr 1, 2012 at 3:45 PM
@Josh
Your the only one who looks like a fu cking clown
We just beat liverpool to go 11 points clear in 6th and draw level on points with chelsea so 2 yes 2 points off a champions league place,
and all you can do is come on here to start a fight with your own fans
What a bell end
Spuggy
Apr 1, 2012 at 3:50 PM
Comment #8Tiote has a better goal return than Ba after 7 games! Wow
Pecorino ( will let you figure it out)
Apr 1, 2012 at 3:51 PM
Comment #9Now this could be a great weekend for us Spuds must LOSE to a great Swansea side! BB must beat Manure somehow…and Napoli must tear Juve a new ahole….
HWTL!!!
What a weekend lads..:CISSE IS THE REAL DAMN DEAL worth 80 mil now 🙂
I AM SOOO HAAPPPYYYY I am tripping…
Thump
Apr 1, 2012 at 3:52 PM
Comment #10Carrying on from the last thread: Stop replying to the WUMs ffs. We all know they’re here to wind people up so just ignore the idiots, they’ll get bored eventually.
geoff777
Apr 1, 2012 at 3:52 PM
Comment #11@Ben-Arfa11
Nearly right …
Guthrie marked Gerrard out of the game.
toonarmydownsouth
Apr 1, 2012 at 3:53 PM
Comment #12Think kenny has finished big andy by taking him off did you see him storm off down the tunnell,
Real shame big talent but, well f him hes made his bed as they say
shay Robson
Apr 1, 2012 at 3:53 PM
Comment #13i really hope totenham and chelsea screw up soon but maybe not likely.
Pecorino ( will let you figure it out)
Apr 1, 2012 at 3:53 PM
Comment #14Must say Lads Guthrie had an ok game I reckon we cant afford to lose players in Midfield with Tiote off to ACON….and us POSSIBLY being in europe we really do need squad depth….
One player I am not too keen to keep is Willo most of the time Liability….Today is like his FIRST ok game but nearly got us a penalty on Judas…. you never know
Kc-Toon
Apr 1, 2012 at 3:54 PM
Comment #15Really interesting what the Liverpool fans are coming out with, Optimism for carroll has gone, eventually..
murmers he didnt want to score against his boyhood club, so dived hahah! just a reminder of the awful dive
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hmZj5BToD4
Also, to see carroll storm off the pitch, saying f**k this, and throwing the liverpool shirt on the floor, to leave before the end of game game, hasnt warmed the hearts of the bindippers at all, wont be long till he starts a revolution to get him out of liverpool!
winaldo1990
Apr 1, 2012 at 3:54 PM
Comment #16Perchy was class today, tote was a monster. Simpson handball was never a pen but cisse was definitely offside for his second but hey we deserve some luck. I h8 liverFool!!!!
archaeomag
Apr 1, 2012 at 3:54 PM
Comment #17Retained possession better today,
– – Kenny on BBC want’s a pen for Simo on the line!
geordiejohn
Apr 1, 2012 at 3:56 PM
Comment #18Well done every Newcastle player you all gave 100%
warwick
Apr 1, 2012 at 3:58 PM
Comment #19heh, i remember a while back in one of my random spurts on this blog I said wouldn’t it be funny if perchy came good.
You know what, he is, all you ‘fans’ who got on his back should hang ya heads! well chuffed for the lad.
warwick
Apr 1, 2012 at 3:59 PM
Comment #20btw the picture of enrique in goal was priceless…
joppadoni
Apr 1, 2012 at 4:01 PM
Comment #21i texted me mam that he dived so he didnt score at the time. i still love carroll. i hope he does great in his career. 😀
karasu
Apr 1, 2012 at 4:03 PM
Comment #22Perchy certainly made a meal out of the minute contact by Pepe. Shameful way to sign off the game after such a fine defensive performance.
Guthrie showed that he’s not suited for switching flank to the left flank. Repeatedly exposed Jonas to Traitor Bellamy’s attacks. But that delicious cross that Papiss almost put away is awesome.
Mikey certainly picked a good time to come back to form. Many importance clearances and a few threatening headers to Pepe’s goal.
Man of the match really, belongs to Martin Atkinson. Clearly wearing black and white today. Did well to spot Carroll’s dive (which could’ve been a glorious chance for andy if he kept his feet on the ground). No call on Simmo’s handball. No call on Papiss’s offside goal.
toonfan_Ew Ew
Apr 1, 2012 at 4:07 PM
Comment #23The second half was pure comedy from Liverpool. Very impressed with Perch, there’s no harm in trying him more at centre back, he’s full of confidence and very composed. Kenny has one hell of a job to do at Liverpool. Mr Enrique and Mr Carroll, the grass is not always greener on the other side, yet we’re a lot better off this season than last. HWTL
josh
Apr 1, 2012 at 4:08 PM
Comment #24@toondownsouth. If you keep flirting with me like this I’m gonna get a restraining order. The mere fact you bit on the hook suggests you are one of these willo haters that just got shown up by a lad who done his talking on the pitch. As for suggesting I’m unhappy with this victory and the facts you point out to go with it is nothing short of idiotic. I just back every player regardless of form or past errors.
josh
Apr 1, 2012 at 4:11 PM
Comment #25@ thump. I ain’t trying to wind anyone up mate. If people got wound up by that statement It’s their own fault for hating on willo. Can’t help being thrilled for the lad and the team can i. Maybe next time il do a Brutoon and come back in a negative somber mood and whine just to please people ??????????
PennStateToon
Apr 1, 2012 at 4:11 PM
Comment #26I don’t think you can overstate what a job Mike and James did today at the back. For all the slack they receive on this board, they need to be recognized for performing well! They were picked to be our weakest link today and they pitched a clean sheet against a team that can be imposing in the air. Well done
josh
Apr 1, 2012 at 4:15 PM
Comment #27Agreed ^
The Ghost of St.James
Apr 1, 2012 at 4:19 PM
Comment #28Great result. Perchenbauer had his best ever game for Newcastle. Papiss Cisse looks the real deal up top, a true Geordie Nation No.9. C’mon the Swans
zimtoon
Apr 1, 2012 at 4:19 PM
Comment #29Could hear andy carroll sobbing in the change rooms from zimbabwe!
BringBackTav
Apr 1, 2012 at 4:55 PM
Comment #30@winaldo1990
He scores when he wants
He scores when he wants
Pappis cisse
He scores when he wants
Nothing could be more true. When Ba gets his shooting boot back on (not that I’m discounting the priceless work he does on the left) we’ll be set. Another young striker for the cup.
out of toon
Apr 1, 2012 at 5:04 PM
Comment #31@26
Agreed – liverfool spent whole game banging balls into penalty area and we keep clean sheet… one of our best results for the season… even better with the pressure cooker atmosphere
Cisse-is-from-Zimbabwe
Apr 1, 2012 at 5:43 PM
Comment #32Tbh Before the game, I thought our back four was going to be torn apart by Bellamy and Judas. Well done to the lads. Still feel we could of got two more with better luck.
@zimtoon hey I’m also from Zimbabwe!
philippealbert
Apr 1, 2012 at 11:48 PM
Comment #33Our front three are as good as any in premier league in current form. Next season Cisse is going to be an absolute monster. I’m terrified. Please, Ashley, keep this team together over the summer and we’re set.
cupiddstunt
Apr 2, 2012 at 12:44 AM
Comment #34Karasu @ # 22
Carroll’s dive was a dive 10 out of 10 for spotting that.
Simmo’s had never left the post so hard for an official to spot any handball.
Pappis was not offside from the last move, he was level at the time of the last challenge.
And you point is???????????????