Sans-Suarez Liverpool Crush Struggling Newcastle

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Striker Luis Suarez is done for the season with a ten game ban following the ridiculous biting incident last weekend.  Today at Newcastle, his absence was not an issue as Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho more than made up for the Uruguayan.

Liverpool jumped out to an early lead when the centerback Agger scored with a header.  A diagonal cross played him into space and he finished by getting his header just over the keeper caught off his line (3').  Liverpool scored another shortly after by stretching the Newcastle defense.  Coutinho played a long through-ball that put Sturridge behind the back line.  Sturridge had the opportunity to shoot, but with the keeper crashing in on him, Sturridge instead made the smart pass wide to Henderson who finished on the empty net (17').

Newcastle made two changes after half-time and for the first few minutes of the second-half, Newcastle looked like they would get back into the match.  But sloppy possession from substitute Ben Arfa let Coutinho tackle the ball off of him and make a run at the defense.  Timing his run well, Coutinho passed to Sturridge for the finish in front of goal (54').  Moments later Sturridge scored again when Henderson returned the favor from the first-half.  Captain Gerrard released Henderson into space and again keeper Elliot was beat coming off his line when the easy pass found Sturridge wide to finish on an empty net (60').

At this point the Newcastle supporters started filing out of the stadium as they had had enough, though Liverpool had not.  Forward Borini came on for Liverpool and scored right away.  Winger Downing managed to drive to the end-line and hit Borini with a cutting pass.  Borini used his first-touch to find just enough space to work the shot, finishing with a toe-poke (74').

The Newcastle players were getting fed up as well and a brash tackle by the right-back Debuchy earned him a red card.  On the ensuing free-kick Liverpool scored a sixth and final goal.  Henderson's free-kick was intended to be attacked with a header, but nobody could get a touch and the ball ended up in the back of the net (76').  Though Suarez is responsible for the majority of Liverpool's goals this season, Sturridge has proven to be a positive addition to the club.  He will have a bigger role in the last few games of the season, and hopefully he can continue to build a relationship with his teammate Coutinho.