McManaman star of show

It may seem like a strange thing to say of a game that at least superficially delivered a decisive result, but at the conclusion of this 90 minutes, the neutral left St James's Park with as many questions as answers.

There are three posers in particular: How substantial is Liverpool's revival? How serious is Newcastle's subsidence? And just how good is Steve McManaman?

The latter is the easiest question to answer on yesterday's evidence - McManaman scored two goals of piercing quality and for half an hour, ran the show like a man with a whip and a top hat. More of this and he will be a certainty for England's World Cup first XI, never mind the squad.

His first-half brace gave Liverpool all three points for a fourth consecutive game and with Manchester United stumbling for once, Liverpool closed to nine points behind the leaders with a match in hand.

Liverpudlian optimism, however, should be tempered by Newcastle's second-half charge, which somehow failed to deliver an equaliser. Defensive timidity is still the biggest problem for Roy Evans's side.

Evans, perhaps recognising this, was relieved afterwards and said: "We played some fantastic stuff, the pace of it was frightening. But you need that extra goal because Newcastle are always going to come at you." He did not add: "And Liverpool are always going to back off."

Newcastle, though, despite enhanced displays against Manchester United and again here, are now only six points off a relegation spot and have only two points from the last 21, yet there was only half-hearted booing on the final whistle. The natives do not appear to be too restless - after all, they had seen Newcastle's first goal for 237 minutes.

As their manager Kenny Dalglish said: "We couldn't have done any more. It wasn't a good result, but it was a tremendous performance. If we go about our job like that, we will be all right."

On the back of their hat-trick of victories, Liverpool's confidence has obviously blossomed, the trio of McManaman, Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen looking particularly motivated by the thought of swift, incisive counter-attacking football.

Having said that, neither side had the monopoly on defensive uncertainty and Liverpool's major failing of recent times, the lack of an aggressive centre-half, was again exposed in telling fashion after only 16 minutes.

Jason McAteer was responsible for a mistake a couple of yards outside the Liverpool area, needlessly bundling into John Barnes. Keith Gillespie swung in the freekick and, from barely six yards, Steve Watson rose - with only the hint of a red challenge to put him off - and powered a downward header past David James.

James - preferred to Brad Friedel - had no chance, having previously saved a long-range effort from Barnes. But, while Newcastle were invigorated, their goal was merely the preface to McManaman's purple half-hour.

After another Newcastle attack had broken down in the 31st minute, Owen won a vital tackle on the half-way line and slipped a quick pass to Fowler. Looking up, Fowler clipped a diagonal ball to McManaman on the right and he chested it down before sending a sumptuous volley over the static Shaka Hislop, on to the far post and then in.

In midfield, Robert Lee and David Batty continued to battle for scraps for Newcastle, but Liverpool were beginning to flow with impressive co-ordination and before McManaman's second, two minutes before half-time, Owen and Fowler both had useful sighters.

At the other end, Faustino Asprilla was surprised when put in the clear by a Stuart Pearce ricochet and almost immediately, the ball was once again at McManaman's feet 70 yards away. Finding Owen, who had peeled off to the right wing, McManaman journeyed on into the Newcastle box from where he met Owen's return on the half-volley. Again Hislop's presence was rendered irrelevant.

Typically, however, this was not a sign that Liverpool were resuming control, and instead it provoked a Newcastle resurgence of such intensity that Liverpool frequently had all 11 men in their own area. Lee was unlucky to see a 30-yard piledriver brilliantly tipped on to the crossbar by James.

No wonder Evans was glad to hear the final whistle, and on a reawakened title race was able to say: "Too many times over the past couple of seasons, when Man United have been beaten, so have we. We have failed to capitalise." Not yesterday, but then, only just.

Newcastle: Hislop, Barton (Hamilton 45), Beresford, Pistone, Pearce, Watson, Batty, Lee, Gillespie, Barnes, Asprilla. Subs Not Used: Given, Ketsbaia, Tomasson, Rush. Goals: Watson 16.

Liverpool: James, Kvarme, Harkness, Matteo, McAteer, Leonhardsen, Ince, McManaman, Redknapp, Fowler (Carragher 79), Owen. Subs Not Used: Babb, Riedle, Berger, Friedel. Booked: Redknapp. Goals: McManaman 31, 43.

Referee: G R Ashby (Worcester).