Stunning Reds hit Newcastle for six

Liverpool ended a difficult week excellently yesterday, hitting Newcastle United for six at St James' Park to inflict their biggest home defeat since 1925 on the Geordies and send an emphatic message to the rest of the Premier League: Liverpool are not a one man team.

Braces from Jordan Henderson and Daniel Sturridge, as well as an early header from Agger and Borini's first goal in the Premier League, earned the Reds a victory their performance deserved. Brazilian playmaker Philippe Coutinho was also immense in midfield, although he failed to cap a wonderful display with a goal of his own, despite being instrumental in the build up to his teammates' strikes.

After an energetic and positive start, Daniel Agger gave the Merseysiders the lead after only three minutes, exploiting poor defending from the Barcodes to glance a header beyond Elliot and into the net to give the visitors the ideal start to the match.

A stunning team move then made it two just past the quarter of an hour mark. The hosts foolishly allowed Coutinho space in the middle to slide a sumptuous through ball into Sturridge, who unselfishly squared to the supporting Henderson. The former Sunderland player sent a simple finish into the net and then celebrated in front of the Geordie faithful with relish.

Henderson nets a second 17 minutes in

Daniel Sturridge and the fantastically named Mathieu Debuchy were then both booked by referee Marriner for squaring up to each other over something of nothing. Thankfully, Sturridge kept his cool because we'd really be struggling if he was suspended as well.

Soon after the half hour mark Newcastle squandered a great chance to get back into the contest. Haidara whipped the ball into the box from the left wing and found Perch, who fortunately headed wide when he really should have at least tested Pepe Reina.

Despite making a double substitution at the break to try and revive his floundering troops, Newcastle manager Alan Pardew remained frustrated with his team, who could only muster a blasted shot by Tiote, which sparked unreasonable appeals for handball against Lucas, before the Reds struck again.

The diminutive Coutinho amazingly out-muscled Ben Afra in the middle of the pitch and then embarked on a run forward that culminated in his delightful dinked pass setting in Sturridge, who finished with aplomb. Six minutes later, Henderson returned the favour Sturridge had given him in the first half, squaring to the former Chelsea player to give him a simple tap in, which he netted with ease to round off yet another outstanding team move.

On 72 minutes Steven Gerrard's ever present record in the league came to an end as he was replaced by Fabio Borini. The Italian striker, who has been blighted by injuries and hence struggled to find form, justified the substitution only a minute later, as he poked home after good build-up work by Stewart Downing.

Borini celebrates in his traditional manner

The home side were still finding it impossible to deal with Coutinho, with Debuchy earning a second yellow fifteen minutes from time after a poor challenge on the number ten. The resulting free kick was whipped into the far corner by Henderson to send the travelling Kop into party mood, as a conga quickly formed in the away section. They almost had even more reason to celebrate, but unfortunately Coutinho's excellent effort was tipped onto the crossbar by Elliot.

It was the perfect way to round off a weak of controversy and scandal. Liverpool FC is about winning football matches and Brendan Rodgers' side proved that yesterday with a classy performance and well deserved 6-0 win that silenced the critics.

YNWA