Struggling Magpies hit for six by Red machine

A DEJECTED looking Alan Pardew had his relegation concerns increased at St James' Park when he was forced to witness his Newcastle United team hit for six by a rampant Liverpool.

The Magpies, still rocked by the defeat to Sunderland in their last home match, never got to grips with the Reds from the start on Tyneside and rarely looked like pulling one back after Daniel Agger had given the visitors an early lead.

Former Sunderland midfielder Jordan Henderson grabbed a second in the first half before Liverpool took complete control after the restart.

Two goals from Daniel Sturridge, a fifth from substitute Fabio Borini's first touch and a second from Henderson completed the rout which led to many Newcastle fans heading for an early exit – and hurl abuse towards Pardew on their way.

Newcastle are just five points clear of the bottom three with nine points to play for and, worryingly, third from bottom Wigan still have that game in hand.

Newcastle – who also had full-back Mathieu Debuchy sent off in the second half - were dreadful and never recovered from the worst possible start when they had fallen two goals behind inside the 17 minutes.

The danger signs were there within the opening 90 seconds when Lucas Leiva and Philipe Coutinho combined to set Glen Johnson clear down the right. His cross towards Sturridge had to be dealt with by Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa.

But Newcastle could not get out of their half and then when Stewart Downing's cross in to the area was cleared, the former Middlesbrough man's second attempt was converted beyond goalkeeper Rob Elliot by Agger's head in the third minute.

After that Coutinho's influence grew. Newcastle left too many gaps and when Pepe Reina's long punt upfield turned defence into attack for the Reds, the Magpies were two behind.

Sturridge's lay-off on half way found Coutinho. The Brazilian then gave him the ball back with a delightful pass and Sturridge rolled in to the path of Henderson to apply the simple finish.

That second arrived in the 17th minute and it looked as if Newcastle – who should have pulled one back when James Perch headed a Massadio Haidara cross wide from six yards – would concede more quickly.

They did, but not until after half-time. Just when it seemed Newcastle were benefiting from the half-time introduction of Hatem Ben Arfa and Yoan Gouffran, Liverpool took command.

Ben Arfa was dispossessed by Coutinho after some good pressure from Henderson. Coutinho cut inside before chipping a lovely pass through for Sturridge, who drilled in to the centre of Elliot's net.

That arrived in the 53rd minute and seven minutes later it was four. When Steven Gerrard, a constant nuisance to Cheik Tiote and Yohan Cabaye, picked out Henderson, the former Sunderland man rolled across for Sturridge to grab a simple second.

Then Newcastle's heads dropped completely. When Gerrard had made way for Borini, the Italian's first two touches were to control and finish a Downing pass to put Liverpool five ahead.

And, after Debuchy's day got worse with a red card for a second yellow when he fouled Coutinho, Henderson's free-kick from wide evaded everyone in the area and nestled inside Elliot's far corner.

This was not a day for Newcastle fans, nor Pardew, to remember fondly. With three matches remaining, dropping in to the Championship again remains a distinct possibility.

NEWCASTLE: Elliot; Debuchy, S Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara; Perch (Gouffran 46), Tiote (Anita 65), Cabaye; Sissoko, Cisse, Gutierrez (Ben Arfa 46). Subs: Harper (gk), Williamson, Gosling,Shola Ameobi.

LIVERPOOL (4-2-3-1): Reina; Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Enrique; Lucas, Gerrard 8 (Borini 73); Downing, Coutinho (Suso 84), Henderson; Sturridge (Shelvey 84). Subs: Jones, Wisdom, Coates, Skrtel.