Liverpool close year with win, Gerrard scores in his return (3-1)

Liverpool closed the year with a win against Newcastle (3-1) and outranked Arsenal in the fifth position.

The Reds received a major boost with the return of captain Steven Gerrard, who commemorated his comeback from a two-month absence with a goal, but it was Craig Bellamy to settle the win with a double.

Newcastle were motivated by their return to winning on Boxing Day and silenced Anfield as Daniel Agger netted in the wrong goal at 25’. But the Welsh forward took no more than five minutes to restore the tie. 

In the second half, Bellamy stroke again at 67’, reversing the score for the home side. However, the spotlight went to Gerrard, who came off the bench to seal the deal for the Reds at 78’.

Dalglish’s men finish 2011 with 34 points, as many as Chelsea and one more than Arsenal,   putting, therefore, some more pressure on the Londoners, who only play on New Year’s Eve. For Alan Pardew’s side, the defeat doesn’t mean a drop in the standings, as the Magpies remain 7th, but the distances to the top-five have increased as they are now four points behind.