Liverpool 3-0 Newcastle: Kuyt streak goes on as Kop go fifth

Dirk Kuyt scored his eighth goal in seven Barclays Premier League matches as Liverpool ran out 3-0 winners at home to Newcastle to move into fifth place.

The Holland international struck from the penalty spot in the second half to double the lead given to his side by Maxi Rodriguez's fourth in two games.

Luis Suarez added a third but former Magpies striker Andy Carroll could not score against his old club despite a 20-minute substitute appearance.

Liverpool's club record signing Andy Carroll was named on the bench for the visit of former club Newcastle after missing the 5-0 win over Birmingham with a knee injury.

Manager Kenny Dalglish made just one change, with Glen Johnson returning at left-back in place of Jack Robinson after missing the last three matches with a hamstring problem.

Veteran defender Jamie Carragher, captaining the side in the absence of Steven Gerrard, made his 665th appearance for the club, taking him joint second in the Reds' all-time list alongside Emlyn Hughes and Ray Clemence.

Newcastle named the same starting XI which drew 1-1 at Blackpool last week.

Johnson, despite being a right-back, was employed on the left where he had been positioned earlier in the season by Dalglish.

It was his seventh-minute cross from the byline which presented Raul Meireles with Liverpool's first half-chance but he bundled his volley wide of the far post.

But an even greater threat came from the other flank three minutes later to create the opening goal.

Teenager John Flanagan's deep cross was only half headed clear by Mike Williamson and Maxi Rodriguez followed up to volley home, via a big deflection off Danny Simpson, his fourth goal in two matches having hit a hat-trick against Birmingham.

Just like last week, however, the Reds then proceeded to concede territory to their opponents, who enjoyed a sustained period of possession without really threatening.

That spell ended with Jay Spearing's dipping shot which Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul claimed at the second attempt with Meireles bearing down on him.

Flanagan was harshly booked for a foul on Jonas Gutierrez close to the touchline but, for the second time from a similar position, Joey Barton wasted the free-kick.

The set-piece delivery of the Liverpool-born midfielder, who seemed intent on antagonising the Kop, was poor throughout the first half as he also failed to threaten with several inswinging corners.

When he did put a free-kick into a dangerous area Johnson headed behind for a corner, from which Nolan subsequently ballooned a shot over.

Lucas Leiva's header from Dirk Kuyt's cross was marginally closer, Krul claiming the ball as it looped towards the top corner.

But it was the visitors who were enjoying the better passages of play towards the end of the half with Jose Enrique, a summer target for Liverpool, seeing a free-kick deflected behind.

For the second half Liverpool's full-backs switched sides, with Flanagan having been given a difficult time by Gutierrez.

But the youngster was almost caught napping within seconds of the restart as Kevin Nolan's low cross was sidefooted wide by Barton at the far post.

Having benefited from a deflection for their goal Liverpool almost received another bonus when Luis Suarez's left-footed shot cannoned off Williamson's head and bounced into the side-netting.

Rodriguez almost scored a freakish second when his cross from the left sailed over Krul but dropped onto the crossbar, although there was a hint of good fortune about Liverpool's 59th-minute second.

Suarez isolated Williamson wide on the left from Jose Reina's kick and was sent tumbling by the defender right on the edge of the penalty area close to the byline.

Referee Peter Walton, who had frustrated the home crowd with a number of decisions, had no hesitation in pointing to the spot to allow Kuyt to score his eighth in seven Barclays Premier League matches.

The Holland international should have doubled his tally with a free header seven yards out minutes later but missed the target.

Suarez made no such mistake in the 65th minute when he exchanged passes with Kuyt to sidefoot under Krul from 10 yards.

With the game safe Dalglish sent on Carroll for Rodriguez with 20 minutes to go, just before Meireles' diving header was deflected behind by Fabricio Coloccini.

Carroll barely touched the ball as his side ran out comfortable winners and, despite having played one match more than Tottenham, Liverpool are strong contenders to take the Europa League berth.