- 13 hours ago
The Newcastle board decided to dispense with the services of manager Kenny Dalglish three days ago and appointed former Chelsea boss Ruud Gullit as a replacement. Liverpool followed up their away win at Southampton with a draw at hoe to Champions Arsenal.
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00:00The 30th of August 1998, a significant game for Magpie supporters as it heralded the start of Ruud Hullit's tenure
00:06as manager.
00:08Liverpool had begun the season with a win at Southampton and a draw with Arsenal,
00:11and they had a bubbling Michael Owen in their ranks, fresh from his exploits at the World Cup.
00:16Hullit had only been at the club four days, so left it to first-team coaches Alan Irvine and Tony
00:21Kage to select the Newcastle side.
00:24There was a first start of the season for Philippe Albert, and debuts for Carl Serent and Stéphane Guivache,
00:29who'd played in the World Cup final for France.
00:32Liverpool made one change to the team that had started both Premiership matches.
00:37England midfielder Jamie Redknapp returned to the side after five months out through injury.
00:41In a 4-4-2 formation, Steve McManaman and Patrick Berger supplied the width for the front two of Owen
00:47and Karl-Heinz Riedler.
00:50A big day for Hullit, albeit in a watching brief, match commentary from Alan Parry.
00:57Newcastle United, in their famous black-and-white stripes, get the game underway, attacking from right to left with this
01:04slightly new-look formation.
01:06Pearce lining up in the heart of the defence, not as expected on the left-hand side.
01:11That job has gone to the Belgian Philippe Albert, who's been restored to the side today.
01:18Watson in that right-wing-back role.
01:24And Liverpool looking to improve on their performance in their last Premiership match against Arsenal,
01:33when they were held to a goalless draw by the champions.
01:40And Berger will have a go from here.
01:44Maybe should have done, he found Riedler instead, who's turned brilliantly.
01:47Great block.
01:48That really was a superb challenge by Stuart Pearce.
01:53And a foul there by Heger.
01:55Gives a free-kick to Newcastle United, but the way Stuart Pearce threw himself with the ball then.
02:01That was a goal-saving interception.
02:14Gives a free-kick to Stoney.
02:16Last tackle by Carragher.
02:18But Pruse is strong as well, it's skilful.
02:21In for the long ball, and it's a brilliant ball too towards Owen.
02:25Unlucky there, Owen.
02:26Good control, it wasn't an easy ball.
02:30Brushed aside by Albert, and in fact the referees decided
02:33that Albert committed a foul there, and the home fans didn't like that decision at all.
02:37Tugging of the shirt is the decision from Mr. Barber.
02:42I don't quite know how he got tugging of the shirt out of that one.
02:45He certainly pushed him.
02:48Dangerous position for Newcastle to defend this free-kick.
03:06Stornton takes it.
03:07Oh, good work by Shea Gibbon.
03:10And Heggen tried to hit that, but Lee read his intentions, however he's now giving it away to McManaman.
03:16And now Patrick Berger for Liverpool.
03:18Paul Ince in a good shooting position.
03:20He has struck that brilliantly.
03:21Owen onto the rebound.
03:23What a fine finish by Michael Owen.
03:26A brilliant effort initially by Ince, and it really produced a fine save as well from Gibbon.
03:33But the Predator was on hand to strike.
03:36And this was a superb finish by Owen.
03:38It was no means routine, that.
03:40He was a bit unlucky there, Shea Gibbon, in the end.
03:43It was a tight angle, but somehow or other, Michael Owen managed to squeeze it in between goalkeeper and post.
03:53Michael Owen, last season's top scorer with 23 goals, has given Liverpool an early advantage at St. James' Park.
04:05What a record he has now, Michael Owen, in Liverpool's first team games.
04:10That 24 in 47 games.
04:13Unbelievable statistics for a lad who you have to keep reminding yourself.
04:17He's only just recently turned 18.
04:19What a start for Liverpool.
04:21McManaman for them.
04:22And you have to praise the Park play by Paul Ince.
04:25The Liverpool captain unleashed an unstoppable shot there,
04:29which Gibbon, I thought, did well just to push out.
04:32No goalkeeper in the world could have done any better with that.
04:37The goal came out for 17 minutes.
04:42Fabulous start for Liverpool, who had to endure a lot of early pressure here, and Owen is away again and
04:48could make it too, and has done.
04:50The moment he got the ball, the moment he got the ball, you knew, you knew what would happen.
04:56He is ice cool, this lad, and the finish, which he made look routine, was far from that.
05:03Much more experienced players might have panicked here, he remained back, aware of the danger of offside, and chose his
05:11moment perfectly to slide the ball under Shea Gibbon and get his second goal in, well, a little over a
05:17minute I would say.
05:18Michael Owen on target again, and a match that has been built in some quarters as a clash of England's
05:26two World Cup strikers is very firmly going in favour of Liverpool's Owen at the moment.
05:33Alan Shearer has not even had a shot at this stage, and Newcastle United stunned by Liverpool's opening here.
05:42And so is the new boss.
05:45Oh dear, he must be thinking, the problems might be greater than I imagine, as Glass knocks one in, that
05:51could have produced an immediate reply for Alan Shearer,
05:55whose header came off the Liverpool defender to earn Newcastle United their first corner of the game.
06:00Good ball in there by Glass, who's made an excellent start, came off Staunton in fact.
06:14Piers will take the corner, whipped it into a near post, Friedel doing well, headed back goalwards, but a disappointing
06:22effort.
06:23And Friedel in exactly the right place to save that rather tame header from Philippe Albert.
06:28Should have done better there I thought, Albert.
06:49But really, what could Newcastle have done about either of those goals?
06:54Wonderful ice-cool finishing by Michael Owen.
07:07That's a good ball, Patrick Berger.
07:09Danger again here.
07:11And Owen's there again!
07:12And perhaps the easiest chance of the lot, he's missed.
07:16That could have been a hat-trick inside, what, four minutes?
07:20Which would have been, well, record-breaking.
07:30There's Gary Speed, Philippe Albert.
07:36Speed.
07:40Lee.
07:42Poor lay-off this time by Glass, he's given it straight to Patrick Berger.
07:48Check International keeping his place in the Liverpool team, and many had expected him to lose it.
07:52Now Liverpool have lost the ball, and there's surely got to be an equal, or at least a goal here
07:57for Gibas.
07:59They might have to wait a bit longer for the equaliser, but at least Stefan Gibas is off the mark.
08:05And Newcastle have got one goal back in the 28th minute.
08:11Very sloppy defending there by Liverpool.
08:13Babb dispossessed.
08:14He was on his feet claiming he was fouled, as Rob Lee continued the attack.
08:19And he had, well, he was full for choice, didn't he?
08:21He had either Gibas or Shearer to pick out.
08:24He picked out the new Frenchman, who marks his debut with a simple goal.
08:34But Gibas, who was leading scorer in two successive seasons in the French League, is off the mark.
08:40A goal, more than he managed in six appearances for his country in the World Cup finals.
08:45Liverpool straight back on the attack again.
08:47And another fine effort this time, just over the bar from Jamie Redknapp.
08:52Well, what a game we have here.
08:53Yeah, it seems when these two teams meet, the goals flow.
09:08Ince.
09:10Redknapp.
09:11Well, this is the kind of match, I think, that has so many people around the world drooling about the
09:18quality of English football.
09:19There seem to be endless arguments about Italy's Serie A, who's against the English Premiership.
09:25But when you get this kind of drama, pace, hard-tackling, excitement, and end-to-end flow,
09:32I really do think the Premiership can lay claim to have the best league in the world.
09:37There wouldn't be too many matches in Italy that could match the spectacle of this.
09:45Here's Bam.
09:47Staunter.
09:50And Bad Rocks sit rather gingerly back there to Brad Friedle.
09:57And Newcastle have picked up well, but given it away to Owen.
10:01And Owen vaults the first challenge.
10:03And the second.
10:04Brilliant.
10:05What a goal.
10:08What an unbelievable goal by Michael Owen.
10:12A hat-trick inside.
10:1530-odd minutes.
10:17That was absolutely unbelievable.
10:21Look at that.
10:22One, two, three defenders around him.
10:25He evaded two challenges.
10:27There was still so much work to do there, because Given had come out and narrowed the angle well.
10:32Look how difficult it was.
10:33He had just a glimmer of daylight to aim at, really.
10:38And found the back of the net.
10:41Just really defies any more adjectives and superlatives.
10:47He's got three goals.
10:49He could and probably should have had four.
10:51And he's making international defenders look like beginners.
10:58Is there a better goal scorer anywhere in the world?
11:03It is a question for debate, quite seriously.
11:08Is Ronaldo any cooler than Michael Owen?
11:16He can't be 18.
11:18I need to see his bursts of deal with it.
11:20He looks as though he's been playing for about 20 years.
11:23Here's Patrick Berger.
11:25Liverpool with their two-goal lead restored again here.
11:29And a hat-trick for Michael Owen.
11:31And a stunning first half at St. James' Park.
11:35And here they go again.
11:37And would you believe it's Owen in space once more.
11:40Ooh, well, you can't blame him for having a go, can you?
11:43And certainly nobody in a red shirt is.
11:45McManaman applauding him.
11:47He just loses defenders all the time.
11:50He takes up the most intelligent positions.
12:00No free kick given.
12:02And his speed getting back to dispossessed Karl Mainz-Riedlech.
12:05Now Glass.
12:09Surrante.
12:13And on there.
12:15And Pearce.
12:18Sade.
12:25Pearce lifts one over the top.
12:27Shearer's downward header.
12:28Did well, but Kivash hadn't read the play, really.
12:33And McManaman.
12:35Redknapp.
12:36Owen.
12:37Oh, brilliant football again.
12:40McManaman.
12:41Owen and Riedler in the box.
12:43Newcastle in danger here.
12:44And Riedler's header flies just over.
12:46But the flow, the movement, the skill in that Liverpool attack.
12:51Well, that will have football people drooling.
13:01Looking for one over the top for Givash.
13:03Hegem the defender.
13:08And Liverpool even survive that.
13:11Redknapp turns it forward to the ever-willing Owen to chase.
13:15Brave defending by Albert.
13:18And they're good to see the handshake there.
13:20Owen certainly didn't intend to catch him like that.
13:23Here's Lee.
13:32Newcastle being forced back all the time.
13:38Lee.
13:44Good ball.
13:45Shearer.
13:46The layoff to Spee.
13:48That's a poor effort by Gary Spee.
13:52Only better finishing than that to get back into this game.
13:57As we move now towards the final minute
14:00of the sensational first half.
14:16Good layoff by Lee.
14:19Shabe.
14:20The fourth official has just indicated
14:21we're going to have two minutes of stoppage time added.
14:37Piers winning the header there
14:38but Berger onto the loose ball
14:40and he's done brilliantly here, Berger.
14:42Good effort.
14:43Great goal.
14:44Oh, what a finish by Patrick Berger
14:46and what a finish to the half by Liverpool.
14:524-1.
14:54Newcastle caught napping
14:56but the way Berger charged through the challenge
14:59and found the corner of the net
15:01again, quite exceptional finishing here by Liverpool.
15:05Who've had a first half
15:07that will send shudders down the spine
15:09of every other team in the Premiership.
15:12In this form, Liverpool looking absolutely irresistible.
15:17Well, there's so much competition for places at Liverpool
15:20from real quality players
15:22that the likes of Berger
15:25who were on the fringe of things last season
15:26know they've got to really produce their best
15:28to stay in the side
15:29and that is somehow or other producing
15:33a Liverpool team
15:34already in the early weeks of this season
15:36that you know is going to take some stopping
15:39and these lads know that
15:41and these lads know that
15:41pull it or not
15:43Newcastle have got some problems ahead of them.
15:524-1.
15:53Is there a way back
15:55for Newcastle from this?
16:00Well, we expected fireworks, we expected a classic match
16:03we certainly didn't expect a first half like this.
16:09As Pearce knocks one long
16:11other hopeful punt four with that
16:14and the Liverpool fans again in that corner
16:16will applaud anything at the moment
16:18even a goal kick.
16:22And Newcastle will just want to hear the half-time whistle
16:26a combination of Alan Irvin and Tommy Craig
16:29the two coaches left here
16:30and Ruud Hullit possibly
16:32I'm not quite sure
16:33whether he is going to appear in the dressing room at half-time
16:37he might have to here
16:38he might have to appear on the field in the second half
16:40to save his new team here
16:43and there's the half-time whistle
16:44what a half we've seen here at St. James' Park
16:47Newcastle be right in one
16:49and Liverpool four
16:56Slotted clearance there by Hagen
16:59made Staunton's sprint just to keep it in play
17:02and the long ball over the top
17:05sees Shea Given coming a long way from goal
17:07and Michael Owen again aware of
17:10a potential error
17:14here's Gary Speed
17:18Rob Lee
17:22at the moment Newcastle playing their better football
17:24across the field
17:25and in front of Liverpool's defenders
17:27rather than getting around
17:28or in behind them
17:31and that's not going to be good enough
17:32to get them back into this match
17:39backward header by Babbitt
17:40it'll be a corner if it goes
17:41and Brad Friedl
17:43big as he is
17:43couldn't prevent that corner
17:49and the header
17:50produces a marvellous save
17:52Gary Speed
17:53on the penalty spot
17:55powered that one in
17:56I really thought he was going to sneak in
17:58and Brad Friedl
17:59reacted brilliantly
18:12Barton's corner
18:14Shear up highest again
18:15but this time
18:16just over
18:20as honest as the day
18:21is long Alan Shear
18:22he'll keep going here
18:23even though this is a
18:25depressing position for him
18:27and his teammates
18:39Pierce launches one in
18:41Friedl against Shearer
18:42and Shearer did enough
18:43to knock the big American
18:45out of his stride
18:46and earn his team a corner
18:48typically brave
18:50committed play there
18:51by Alan Shearer
18:56because Friedl is built
18:57like desperate Dan
18:58he really is
18:59a huge man
19:00now a chance
19:01oh
19:02Friedl did well then
19:04he went down
19:04at the feet of Watson
19:05and that was enough
19:06to make sure
19:07that he couldn't get
19:08a clean shot on it
19:09and that prevented
19:11what would have been
19:12a serious situation
19:13there for Liverpool
19:15ball dropping
19:16straight to Watson
19:17and as he stretched here
19:20Friedl just did enough
19:22as indeed did Jamie Carragher
19:25to stop the shot
19:26going on target
19:40certainly got enough
19:41players to change around
19:42here if he wants to
19:44and I suspect
19:44they'll have to shed a few
19:45off the payroll
19:48Pierce swings one in
19:49Speed dabs at it
19:50Shearer dabs at it as well
19:51and neither of them
19:52could convert it
19:54into a goal
19:56smile of quiet
19:58resignation almost
19:59there I think
19:59on the face
20:00of Alan Shearer
20:01accepting that it's
20:02not going to be
20:03his day
20:04or his team's day
20:06oof
20:07that was a bad tackle
20:08on Shearer
20:08by Ince
20:09he's got to be
20:10in trouble here
20:11Ince
20:11it's got to be a card
20:12of some description
20:13only he knows
20:14what colour it's going to be
20:15I suspect yellow
20:18it was a bad challenge
20:23well it's not a tackle
20:24from behind
20:25I don't know what else
20:26you could call it
20:27and were we not told
20:29that the tackle from behind
20:30would be outlawed
20:31and were we not told
20:33that it would lead to red cards
20:40oh tremendous header
20:42and a lot of the crowd
20:43at the other end
20:44of the stadium
20:44thought that that
20:45is as it actually scored
20:46then
20:46as it
20:47the ball
20:48seemed to ricochet
20:49off the back netting
20:51it was a very good effort
20:52by the Greek
20:55just hit the top
20:56of the net
20:58net muscles really
21:00full stretch there
21:01and he powered that one in
21:05I think it would have
21:06made a great deal
21:06of difference
21:07to the eventual outcome
21:07with only two minutes
21:08to go
21:09but
21:10he'd have enjoyed it
21:11anyway
21:17so often happens
21:18in a match
21:19where you get
21:19a high scoring
21:20first half
21:20that you get
21:21little or no addition
21:22to the score
21:23in the second
21:24and that seems
21:25to have been
21:26the case again
21:26today
21:31mistake by
21:32Dabizas
21:33gives Liverpool
21:34the throw
21:35and there's going
21:36to be another change
21:37here
21:38Steve McManaman
21:39who
21:39as I mentioned
21:40has not really
21:41looked at his best
21:42today
21:42as one or two
21:43of the home fans
21:44decide they're going
21:45home
21:45Steve McManaman
21:46is coming off
21:47to be replaced
21:48by one of Liverpool's
21:49youngsters
21:50from youth policy
21:52David Thompson
21:53young midfield player
21:54England under 21
21:55international
21:55who made his debut
21:57a couple of years ago
22:00it's not just
22:01big money purchases
22:02there's still plenty
22:02of excellent young
22:04English football talent
22:07available to the
22:08major clubs as well
22:11there's a key man
22:12in a very successful
22:13Liverpool youth team
22:14of a couple of years ago
22:15along with the likes
22:16of Carragher
22:21Owen was too young
22:22for that team
22:23incredible isn't it
22:31well it's been a quiet
22:33second half
22:33but only
22:34in comparison to the
22:36first
22:36which was quite
22:37exceptional
22:40and the memory of which
22:41I'm sure a lot of
22:42the supporters
22:43lucky enough to be
22:44in the stadium today
22:45will keep with them
22:46for a while
22:47bad memories
22:48perhaps for Newcastle
22:49great memories
22:50for the Liverpool fans
22:51here
22:52and the millions
22:53watching at home
22:54on TV
22:57now Liverpool are
22:58coasting towards
22:59three points now
23:01and that will take
23:02their haul
23:02for the season
23:03to seven
23:04after victory
23:05at Southampton
23:05and a home draw
23:06against Arsenal
23:07Tears with the
23:08Newcastle free kick
23:09headed clear by Rila
23:12Owen who hooked it
23:13away
23:13McAteer hasn't managed
23:14to get a touch yet
23:15since coming on
23:16as a substitute
23:18and finds himself
23:19chasing shadows again
23:20as Glass turns
23:21one forward
23:21a good looking ball
23:22there
23:22but no problem
23:23for the giant
23:25Brad Friedle
23:35he's very much
23:35taken over now
23:36from David James
23:37as Liverpool's
23:38number one
23:39number one
23:40and
23:42he looks the path
23:46Thompson
23:47volleys it back
23:48to Owen
23:49you thought for a
23:50moment there
23:50he was going to be
23:51in again
23:51but
23:51that is
23:52defended rather
23:53better than some
23:54of his colleagues
23:55did in the first
23:56time
23:57is
23:58Chavez
24:00did well
24:01Glass
24:03good run again
24:04by Stephen Glass
24:05and still going
24:07excellent play
24:08and then a wild
24:09effort by Givash
24:10at the end of it
24:14now at the risk
24:15of being repetitive
24:16here
24:16I think there's
24:17two players
24:18who can take pride
24:19in their performance
24:20for Newcastle today
24:20Stuart Pearce
24:21in defence
24:22and young Stephen Glass
24:23who's made an
24:24excellent contribution
24:26I would imagine
24:27Ruudhullit will be
24:28very impressed
24:29with him
24:37well apply ice
24:38is the usual
24:40physiotherapist's advice
24:41when you've got a
24:41problem
24:42and Steve
24:42Matteman has done
24:43has done just that
24:46the final score
24:47at St. James's Park
24:48with Leicester United
24:50won
24:51Liverpool 4
25:20A disappointing start
25:22and the Reds finished
25:23and the Reds finished
25:23in 7th place
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