Goals from Raheem Sterling and Joe Allen either side of half-time kept Brendan Rodgers' side's Champions League hopes alive and condemned the Mapies to a fifth consecutive defeat.
To compound the visitors' woes, Moussa Sissoko was sent off late on for two bookable offences.
Following back-to-back league defeats against Manchester United and Arsenal, Liverpool were given an ideal start when Sterling curled home nine minutes in.
Brendan Rodgers' side - shorn of injured striker Daniel Sturridge - controlled the remainder of the half, but were perhaps fortunate not to concede a penalty when Dejan Lovren appeared to foul Ayoze Perez.
While Newcastle improved after the break, Sterling should have put the game to bed before the hour as he conspired to miss from close-range, with Liverpool's profligate finishing frustrating the home faithful.
However, Allen's instinctive strike erased any fears of a slip-up as Liverpool ensured they remain in the hunt for a top-four finish as well as FA Cup honours, with a Wembley semi-final against Aston Villa to come this weekend.
In contrast, John Carver's Newcastle, who saw captain Moussa Sissoko sent off for a second time this season late on, limp towards the end of another disappointing campaign following a fifth defeat on the bounce.

No comments:
Post a Comment