by account deleted by request » Thu Sep 21, 2006 10:43 am
A Newcastle take on Bellamys bust up, the game and "that goal"
BELLAMY AND McDERMOTT "KICK OFF" IN TUNNEL
The very day Terry McDermott returned to Newcastle under the leadership of Graeme Souness, he made a blistering attack on the departed Craig Bellamy who had just gone to Celtic on loan. A personal attack that shocked us all: "I've never met Bellamy, but from what I've heard, he is not a nice person. Newcastle don't need him and I hope he never plays for Newcastle again."
An "interesting" comment, to say the least from McDermott, especially as their paths had never crossed previous. But the ex-Reds player - and the new Reds player - clashed in the tunnel at Anfield after the game on Wednesday. Bellamy had said previous he wanted to meet the Newcastle coach, and that certainly happened out of view of the TV cameras.
Both managers played down suggestions of the incident in the tunnel.
Benitez: "I heard some shouting but it was only two or three seconds. It was nothing more than that."
Roeder: "I'm not aware of anything. Terry McDermott is an experienced coach and that would be way below him to get involved in anything like that when he represents a club like ours."
ROEDER: "ALONSO TECHNIQUE WAS BRILLIANT"
Xabi Alonso scored a wonder goal against Newcastle and Glenn Roeder was quick to praise the player for having the ability to try it.
Roeder: "I don't think fans realise the technique or how difficult striking a ball like that is. It was a brilliant bit of skill but having said that if Steve hadn't slipped it would have been a great long pass into his arms."
He added: "We were disappointed to come in a goal down at half-time.
"For all Liverpool's pressure I thought we defended well but their goal was a shocking one for us tactically."
Wednesday September 20th 2006
LIVERPOOL 2 NEWCASTLE UTD 0
LIVERPOOL: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Agger, Aurelio,Luis Garcia, Alonso, Sissoko, Gerrard (Gonzalez 85), Bellamy,Kuyt (Crouch 82).
Subs Not Used: Dudek, Hyypia, Warnock.
NEWCASTLE UTD: Harper, Carr, Ramage, Moore, Babayaro,Milner (N'Zogbia 68), Parker, Emre, Duff, Martins (Rossi 76),Ameobi (Sibierski 82).
Subs Not Used: Krul, Butt.
How SKY TV just LOVE this fixture, but have you noticed, everytime we come away from Anfield the Scousers are laughing their backs off while we always seem to be a laughing stock?
The memories of this place are so bitter. Keegan in that frightening red jacket slumping behind the advertising board as his title dreams were (just about) ended by that Stan Collymore injury time goal. Robbie Fowler doing the same thing the next season. And for the record ... Xabi Alonso scored a goal from something like 70yds to make goalkeeper Steve Harper the latest "Anfield Mug".
Harper lost his footing and was flapping about in the mud as Alonso's brilliant effort flew past him, confirming the points for Liverpool after (ex-Newcastle target) Dirk Kuyt hit his first goal for the club on 29 minutes.
Liverpool had previously lost to Everton and Chelsea and ended a scoreless run of three games. Taking pressure off Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez, who has been questioned by fans and players for playing captain Steven Gerrard out wide.
Most Toon fans wanted to see how Martins looked against Kuyt. Did we have the best of the deal, or was the Dutchman right to pick the Reds? But it was hard to judge because Martins hardly touched the ball due to poor service, and although Kuyt was fed constantly he missed chance after chance and should have done far better. In the end both were substituted.
Liverpool dominated the early possession and Craig Bellamy, who was booed throughout by the Toon Army, had the first opportunity of the match but Harper denied him from a tight angle.
Newcastle were on the back foot and rarely troubled Reina, and it was no surprise when Harper was beaten on 29 minutes when Xabi Alonso played in Steve Finnan and the full-back crossed for Kuyt to score.
Newcastle had a penalty claim turned down early in the second half when Shola Ameobi fell under pressure from Daniel Agger. But later the referee was quick to spot Garcia push Alonso's cross into the net with his hand and the player was booked.
Newcastle twice more claimed penalties for handball but Halsey let play go on when Celestine Babayaro clearly punched Kuyt in the face when Newcastle were defending a dead-ball kick.
Bellamy missed a glaring opportunity to add a second after 55 minutes when Gerrard pressured Peter Ramage and the Welshman raced in on Harper. But he lifted the ball over the keeper only to send it wide when he should have scored.
Garcia shot against the post with a spectacular effor that Harper didn't even see. But although the goalkeeper got away with that, minutes later came the moment that will haunt him for the rest of his life. Standing in for the injured Shay Given, the Easington-born 'keeper said "I can't wait to play at Anfield", and I'm sure the clip of Alonso's goal will go down in football history and be shown over, and over ... and over.
Charles N'Zobia was robbed in the Liverpool half, the ball was played square, and Alonso struck from well inside his own half to stun the Toon Army into silence. The Newcastle crowd watched in horror as Harper stumbled and the ball drifted over his head into the unguarded net.
Just as we had seen in the earlier 70 minutes, Newcastle had little to offer in response and Liverpool never looked troubled.
BENITEZ: "ALONSO SHOULD HAVE PASSED!"
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez knocked a bit of the shine off Xabi Alonso stunning goal against Newcastle by telling him he should have passed.
Alonso struck from his own half of the field to beat goalkeeper Steve Harper, who stumbled and fell.
Benitez: "We showed that we can play good football, we can create chances and score some goals. Maybe we deserved one or two more goals but at the end of the day we got one very good score and one amazing goal.
"I think he (Alonso) played well but I was thinking of telling him off because I was watching (Steven) Gerrard running forward out wide. He could have passed it but in the end it was great vision and congratulations. He practises it all the time and I am always telling him to be careful when shooting from distance.
"I am pleased with the number of chances we created and defensively it was another clean sheet as well. It is important to have clean sheets, like last season. Clean sheets are not just for defenders they are for the team.
"We created many chances and I think our supporters enjoyed the game tonight."
Alonso's goal was his first since scoring from his own half in the FA Cup against Luton in January. And on that occasion too, Gerrard berated him for not passing.