Liverpool have defeated Newcastle United 2-1 in today's Premier League final at Anfield after coming back from a goal down, but Manchester City's 2-0 victory against West Ham United consigned the Reds to second place in the table.
The first effort of the game came from Shola Ameobi, whose header after just five minutes flew wide of the target, but the home side countered four minutes later when Steven Gerrard whipped in a dangerous cross into the Magpies box.
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The referee, however, stopped play for offside, denying Daniel Sturridge an opportunity to open fire.
Phil Dowd would incur the wrath of the Liverpool fans on a number of occasions in the first half after waving away penalty appeals for the home side after Jordan Henderson was fouled, while also chalking off a Luis Suarez set-piece goal for offside in the 18th minute.
Much to the chagrin of the home crowd, the Magpies took the lead just two minutes after that incident, and it came courtesy of an own goal by Martin Skrtel, whose miskick saw the ball trickling into the far corner off the bottom of his shin.
The Reds grew increasingly restless trying to pull a goal back, with chances from Suarez and Sturridge proving toothless, and the mood turned increasingly worse when news of Manchester City taking the lead against West Ham United filtered through to Anfield.
The second half saw a galvanised Liverpool become more clinical against the opposition, and soon enough, they scored their 100th goal of the season thanks to Daniel Agger, who latched onto a Gerrard free kick towards the back post to beat Tim Krul at his near post from a tight angle.
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Despite news of a second goal at the Etihad Stadium reaching Anfield, the Kop could at least celebrate taking the lead in the game, when Sturridge sent another Gerrard set piece past the Magpies keeper.
Alan Pardew's side made things harder for themselves when, following a barrage of bookings for Newcastle, Ameobi was given his marching orders in the 66th minute for dissent, and towards the end of the game, Paul Dummett also saw red to reduce the Magpies to nine men.
Giuseppe Labellarte
