Up them geordies!

THE OFFICIAL REASON FOR Jean-Alain Boumsong’s sending-off yesterday was the concession of a penalty denying a goalscoring opportunity, yet the France defender could hardly have demurred had he been banished for crimes against football. At the root of everything that was disastrous about Newcastle United, Boumsong presented Liverpool with a comfortable victory.

Liverpool were good without needing to be spectacular and are two points behind Manchester United but have played two games more. Newcastle were flat. As with the previous Sunday at Old Trafford only a combination of Shay Given's goalkeeping and opposition carelessness spared Glenn Roeder's team from an embarrassing thumping. Much of the feelgood factor stimulated by the mini-revival under Roeder has been erased by the last two displays. Reality has checked in once more on Tyneside, though Roeder can hardly be deemed culpable.

"At half-time we thought we could get something out of the game," said Roeder, "but the penalty kills you." Of those out injured Roeder said he might have Stephen Carr back for Chelsea. There was no mention of Michael Owen.



Now that Liverpool are scoring again there was no talk of Owen from Rafael Benítez either. Before facing Fulham last Wednesday, Liverpool had scored twice in five games and gone out of the European Cup as a consequence. The five against Fulham could have been repeated here because once Cissé made it 3-1 Liverpool eased off.



It was Cissé's 11th goal of the season - which would make him top scorer at St James' Park - but the manner of Cissé's celebration enraged a section of the Gallowgate End. Cissé lifted his shirt to them to reveal a message to his children and then reacted to the supporters' angry response. For that Cissé was booked.

GOALS

Crouch :: Gerrard :: Cisse