Liverpool move up to fifth

Liverpool move up to fifth
May 1, 2011
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/914173/premier-league:-liverpool-move-above-spurs?cc=4716
By ESPN staff
Liverpool stormed ahead of Tottenham into an automatic qualifying place for the Europa League on Sunday, beating Kenny Dalglish's former club Newcastle 3-0 at Anfield.

The Reds leapfrog Spurs on goal difference, having played an extra game, and the two sides still have to play each other at Anfield on May 15. Maxi Rodriguez, Dirk Kuyt and the brilliant Luis Suarez grabbed the goals on Merseyside, adding further weight to Dalglish's bid to become the permanent manager of Liverpool beyond the end of this season.

Dalglish had Andy Carroll back among his ranks on Sunday, but the towering England forward started on the bench against his former club, allowing Rodriguez to continue to operate in the hole following his hat-trick at home to Birmingham last week. Within 10 minutes that decision had paid off for the Reds, with Rodriguez's volley deflected past Tim Krul following John Flanagan's right-wing cross.

Jamie Carragher was making his 655th appearance in a red shirt, moving him alongside Ray Clemence and Emlyn Hughes into second place in Liverpool's all-time appearance list, and he ensured Pepe Reina's goal was not truly threatened until the first minute of the second half, when Joey Barton found the side-netting when arriving unmarked at the back post.

It was the Reds who continued to look the more likely to score the next goal though, and after Rodriguez almost doubled his tally when his mishit cross dropped onto Krul's bar, Liverpool pressed on the accelerator to win a penalty through the relentless running of Suarez. Mike Williamson chose to dither rather than clear, and when Suarez nipped the ball off his toes Williamson clumsily pulled his tormentor down, allowing Kuyt to notch his seventh goal in eight games.

Suarez's running, enthusiasm and overall movement was on a different level to the rest of his peers, and it was only right that he ended a personal drought of four games by claiming Liverpool's third, calmly slotting into the corner from Kuyt's pass.