WHEN Newcastle boss Bobby Robson and his backroom staff begin the task this summer of attempting to turn their squad into one that can challenge in the higher reaches of the Premiership, their priorities may not lie solely in the transfer market.

A creative midfield talent and a striker may top Robson's targets, but a sports psychologist might also find he is on the Magpies' wanted list.

The manager is only too aware that what he needs from his players is the ability to concentrate for 90 minutes in every game.

Too many times this season, United - and particularly the defence - have gone to sleep at crucial times and ended up losing, or conceding needless goals.

Home defeats against Charlton, Everton and Manchester City were all caused by such lapses, and again on Saturday, Newcastle were caught out when it mattered.

For 25 minutes in the second half, they competed well and began to look as though they could force an equaliser.

Then the two centre-backs were caught ball-watching, Michael Owen sped away and it was 2-0 and game over.

Robson labelled his central defenders 'dummies' after the game but then quickly back-tracked. "I know they're not dummies but that's what it looked like," said Robson.

"Just when we're on song and it looks as though we might get a point, Owen pops up and finds the biggest hole you've ever seen on a football pitch, and where one of our centre-halves went to, I don't know.

"He rattles in a second goal and that's the end of the game as far as we're concerned.

"There's one story about Owen, but I've got a story about defenders not being alert.

"We've lost 3-0 and it sounds like a drubbing. In fact it wasn't. It was flattering to them overall."

It would be churlish to suggest Liverpool were not worthy winners, and Robson said Owen's finishing proved they were.

But Newcastle arrived on the back of a less than convincing draw against Southampton, and Liverpool had enjoyed four straight wins in the Premiership.

Many already had their calculators out, and when the Newcastle team was announced it appeared that damage limitation was on the cards with five at the back.

But Robson had other plans and pushed Wayne Quinn to the left side of midfield, with centre-back Aaron Hughes brought in at left-back.

The defence appeared to be still coming to terms with the changes when Owen had his first opportunity before two minutes had elapsed.

Emile Heskey fed his strike partner just inside the Newcastle half and he outpaced the centre-backs, but his low drive from the left edge of the box was saved by the legs of keeper Shay Given.

It was an early warning from the lightning-quick Owen that was not heeded.

Newcastle came more into the game, but their good work was undone before the half hour by the long ball over the top.

Markus Babbel played Owen in on the right and he had no problem slotting home from the edge of the box.

But Newcastle refused to lie down and a sustained spell of pressure soon afterwards should have brought its reward.

On 32 minutes Quinn got in round the back of the defence after an astute ball by Gary Speed, but his effort rebounded off keeper Sander Westerveld for a corner.

The dead ball wasn't properly cleared, and a second corner from Nolberto Solano found the free head of Nikos Dabizas in the box, but his effort was wide.

With Newcastle apparently back in the game, they almost gifted a second to Liverpool just on half-time.

Given attempted a quick clearance but only managed to play the ball straight to Gary McAllister on the edge of the box.

The Premiership player of the month couldn't believe his luck, but Given redeemed himself by saving again with his legs.

Newcastle were much brighter at the start of the second period, with Solano especially causing problems.

A good move down the left on 55 minutes freed Kevin Gallacher in the box and his cross rebounded off Stephane Henchoz straight to the head of Solano.

The Peruvian's effort had Westerveld beaten but Henchoz just managed to clear the ball off the line.

With Newcastle continuing to put pressure on the Liverpool rearguard, Gerard Houllier was forced to shuffle his pack on 69 minutes and the results were almost immediate. Substitute Patrick Berger had only been on the field three minutes when he fed Owen in the inside-left channel.

The striker again found himself free from the attention of any Newcastle defender and he merely lifted the ball over Given from the edge of the box.

Owen's hat-trick arrived when Westerveld cut out Solano's free-kick and fed substitute Robbie Fowler on the left.

His superb 50-yard crossfield pass found Quinn marking Warren Barton and Owen free to slide home his 12th goal in his last six games against Newcastle.

It was also the second time in three seasons that Owen had inflicted a hat-trick on the Magpies - he grabbed a first-half treble in a 4-1 win at St. James' Park in August 1998, in the first game of Ruud Gullit's ill-fated reign.

"It's been nice to play them over the last few years," said Owen.

That's stating the obvious, Michael.