Bellamy's Return Has Geordies Dancing In The Street

NEWCASTLE: Harper, Taylor, Onyewu, Bramble, Babayaro,Solano (Duff 86), Parker, Butt, Milner, Dyer (Sibierski 81),Martins.

Subs Not Used: Srnicek, Luque, Huntington.

LIVERPOOL: Reina, Finnan (Crouch 84), Carragher, Agger, Riise,Pennant (Arbeloa 76), Sissoko, Gerrard, Zenden (Guthrie 75),Bellamy, Kuyt.

Subs Not Used: Dudek, Hyypia.

Att: 52,305

 

To add spice to one of the most awaited fixtures of the season, we had the return of Craig Bellamy to St James' Park and we knew this was either going to be the day to rub his nose in the clarts, or he was going to be the difference between the two sides and he would show two fingers to the Geordie public.

If the truth was known, he didn't want to leave Newcastle. He even went on loan to Celtic to get out of Toon until Graeme Souness hung himself with his own arrogance. But, in the end, both left under a cloud. 

But Bellamy says he finally got his dream move to the club he "always wanted to play for", and on Saturday St James' Park was like a lion's den ... "let the battle begin".

It all started so well for Liverpool and Bellamy, who was booed everytime he touched the ball. The Welsh international made the most of an error by goalkeeper Steve Harper to give them a sixth-minute lead, and he had marked the first chalk on the blackboard.

He continued to torment the Newcastle defence on a pitch drenched by torrential rain and his one-man performance threatened to be an embarrassment to the home side. But a mistake from Jose Reina handed Obafemi Martins the chance to level with his 12th goal of the season after 26 minutes, and Nolberto Solano snatched the points with a 69th-minute penalty.

Reds boss Rafael Benitez was left to rue missed opportunities as Steven Taylor handed Bolo Zenden a chance to make it 2-0 seven minutes after Bellamy had scored when he left his back-pass to Harper woefully short, forcing the keeper to make a vital save as the Dutchman tried to round him.

However, the Magpies got themselves back on terms after 26 minutes.

Kieron Dyer's pass allowed Martins to race away from the defender and, although Reina spotted the danger early, he blasted his clearance into his own man and the striker slid the equaliser into the empty net.

Bellamy might have had a hat-trick before half-time as the Newcastle defence found his pace too hot to handle. How often have we seen it in the past when he was in black and white?

Harper had saved a 20-yard shot from the Welshman at full stretch and he twice came within inches of adding to his tally on 34 minutes. First Bellamy rounded the goalkeeper from Pennant's pass, only to see Titus Bramble block his effort off the line, and then Harper deflected another effort on to the crossbar as the Magpies rode their luck.

Harper saved again from Zenden nine minutes before the break, and the Reds might have restored their lead on 53 minutes when Dirk Kuyt left Nicky Butt for dead with a sharp turn, only to then toe-poke his shot across the face of goal.

On 69 minutes Steven Taylor broke into the box and was tripped by John Arne Riise, and referee Halsey pointed to the spot. Nobby Solano stepped up to send Reina the wrong way and stroke his penalty into the bottom corner.

I'm sure the Scousers left cursing their luck, and Bellamy will look back at a day he could have left a hero. But the Geordie boys had the last word.