Liverpool was in scintillating form as it trounced Newcastle 6-0 at St James’ Park on Saturday.
Jordan Henderson and Daniel Sturridge both netted twice after Daniel Agger nodded the Reds in front, and Fabio Borini marked his return to the side with an instinctive finish.
The last time Liverpool won at St James’ was December 2008, when it dismantled the Magpies in a 5-1 win.
And the vibrant, slick manner with which the Reds went about pressuring Alan Pardew‘s side on Saturday echoed the performance of five years ago.
Purposeful and creative from the start, Philippe Coutinho was at the heart of each forward foray.
After a minute the Brazilian schemer spun near the center circle and slid the ball into acres of space for Glen Johnson, who squared for Sturridge; however, Steven Taylor was alert.
Newcastle were penned deep inside their own area by constant pressure and when they tried to evacuate the box, Coutinho saw Agger had remained in position and the Dane leapt high to nod his cross beyond Rob Elliot.
Brendan Rodgers‘ side passed and moved and pulled Newcastle about the park before they pounced to double their lead.
Coutinho sped towards goal, the ball glued to his right boot, and calmly rolled the ball into Sturridge, who found Henderson and he tapped home before racing away in delight.
Despite the dominance the Reds would go on to enjoy, there was a solitary heart in mouth moment for the travelling Kop when after 38 minutes, James Perch bulleted a free header over Pepe Reina‘s crossbar from yards out.
Newcastle swarmed the Liverpool penalty area after the restart and Johnson was forced to launch himself at a loose ball as Yohan Cabaye stood poised to convert from close range.
At the other end, though, more magic from Coutinho gave Liverpool a third. On the edge of the box the 20-year-old lifted the ball between two black and white shirts to where Sturridge collected and smashed high into Elliot’s net.
On the hour mark it was four. Gerrard clipped a perfectly weighted pass over the top for Henderson, who unselfishly rolled the ball across the face of the goal and Sturridge tapped home his eighth Liverpool goal.
Borini was introduced in the 72nd minute and the Italian prodded home Liverpool’s fifth after fine work from Stewart Downing two minutes later.
Henderson then capped the ruthless performance by curling home a free-kick from the left flank.
Liverpoolfc.com journalists’ man of the match: Philippe Coutinho.
