Two steps forward, one step back?

Since my last blog Liverpool have played away at Steaua Bucharest in the Europa League, securing a 1-1 away draw with a reshuffled team of emerging young players and fringe first-teamers.  There was no place in the starting line-up for Carragher, Gerrard, Torres, Kuyt, Maxi, Johnson, Lucas Leiva, Raul Mereiles and Ngog. The performance was "workmanlike rather than inspiring" but the away point cemented Liverpool's place in the round of 32.  Achieving that result away from home - with a weakened side - is definitely a step forwards for the Reds.



Milan Jovanovic put Liverpool ahead in Bucharest.

Liverpool enjoyed a strong result at Anfield in their next outing, when they hosted Aston Villa, now managed by a former Anfield favourite, Gerard Houllier. .  It was the closest line-up to a full-strength side that Hodgson could field given the current injury list - with Carragher, Gerrard, Spearing and Agger still recovering - and Torres excused due to his wife going into labour.  The team produced a convincing win, with first-half goals from David Ngog and Ryan Babel and a third from Maxi Rodriguez.  Pepe Reina kept a clean sheet, breaking the legendary Ray Clemence's record for 100 clean sheets in the fewest starts.



David Ngog - diving, lower right of picture - puts Liverpool ahead against Aston Villa.

So that was two steps forward in a week.  The question was whether the advance would continue or whether the trip to Newcastle would signal a return to the disappointing away form that has hobbled this Premiership campaign.  It had been a turbulent week at Newcastle, with the sudden sacking of Chris Hughton and his replacement by Alan Pardew.  How would Newcastle's players respond to the arrival of a new Gaffer?

Well its locked up at 1-1 midway through the second-half.  Kevin Nolan put Newcastle ahead on 15 minutes and they held that lead at the interval.  Liverpool's luck turned on 49 mins when Dirk Kuyt potted his fourth goal in six outings against the Toons.  The Toons may feel a little unlucky...

A hoisted through-ball hits a back-pedalling Sol Campbell and drops into the path of Dirk Kuyt, who surges into the area before letting fly with a shot that takes a huge deflection off Steven Taylor and rolls agonisingly past Tim Krul and into the opposite corner of the net.

So no contender for goal of the season there, but they all count.  Since the equaliser, Torres and Ngog have both failed to capitalise on good chances.  Newcastle have brought on substitute Nile Ranger who appears to have sparked them back into life.  Game on...

15 minutes plus stoppage time to play and Newcastle have the upper hand.  Babel comeson for Ngog - can this substitution swing things back to the Reds?  The next 15 minutes could significantly affect the Reds standing in the premiership table.  A win would take them to 6th.  A draw sees them remain 8th.  A loss would see Newcastle overtake them and Liverpool slip back to 9th.  Come on you Reds!!!!!!!!

10 minutes to play - a Newcastle goal to Joey Barton and maybe its 9th for us this week.  Come on you Reds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Into stoppage time and its game over at St James Park.  Andy Carroll smacks in a net-buster from 25 yards - that's 3-1 to Newcastle, a great start for Alan Pardew, and - yes, a step back for Liverpool.

Coincidentally, Newcastle had the worst home record in the Prem going into this match, but even there, we can't get a result.  Come ON you Reds, sort it out!!!