Newcastle halt Liverpool surge
Newcastle United eased the pressure on manager Steve McClaren with a 2-0 win over in-form Liverpool on Super Sunday.
Georginio Wijnaldum was the difference between the teams, playing a big part in Martin Skrtel's opening own goal after the break before wrapping up the points in injury-time with a classy finish.
The hosts had conceded eight goals in their last two league games but kept a clean sheet against a previously rampant Liverpool, who lost their unbeaten run away from home under Jurgen Klopp.
The visitors, victorious in eight of their last nine games in all competitions, were lacklustre in attack but did have a goal controversially disallowed for offside at 1-0 when Alberto Moreno volleyed home a diagonal cross.
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McClaren lost his job within days the last time he faced Klopp while Wolfsburg manager but Sunday's win was a much-needed boost to his prospects on Tyneside, Newcastle still third from bottom but now level on points with Norwich and Bournemouth.
The former England manager had spoken before the game about wanting his team to "go back to basics" after being embarrassed 5-1 at Crystal Palace and his team made life tough for the visitors with some high-tempo pressing off the ball.
Christian Benteke, who was one of six changes for Liverpool from the team that hammered Southampton in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday, managed to break free of Newcastle's defensive shackles on 21 minutes but spooned an effort from close range over the bar following a corner.
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