Liverpool 3 Newcastle 0: Fernando Torres picked up where he left off against West Ham by notching his 19th Premier League goal against a rudderless Newcastle United at Anfield.
All eyes were on the Spaniard after he scored his third hat-trick for the club on Wednesday and he produced for the home fans again with a sublime finish from Steven Gerrard's pass late in the first half to put the game out of the reach of Kevin Keegan's men.
An extremely fortunate deflection off Jermaine Pennant opened Liverpool's account minutes earlier, while Torres set-up his partner in crime Gerrard for the third six minutes into the second half.
The pair were outstanding throughout until they were both rested ahead of Tuesday's Champions League second round second leg tie with Inter Milan at the San Siro.
This was Liverpool's 300th Premier League victory and one that puts them in pole position for fourth spot ahead of neighbours Everton.
Liverpool were without injured pair Javier Mascherano and Steve Finnan, while Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel started on the bench — with Yossi Benayoun, Pennant and Lucas coming into the side.
Newcastle were without Joey Barton, with Charles N'Zogbia the only change from the side which lost at home to Blackburn last weekend.
Signing autographs before the game Keegan looked like he hadn't a care in the world — and his team started confidently, with Alan Smith seeing a seventh-minute header from a corner deflected wide from a corner.
At the other end Torres — the Barclays player of the month — took on Abdoulaye Faye on the right and fired in a cross-shot which Steve Harper turned away.
John Arne Riise was booked for a high challenge on James Milner but Newcastle were still more than holding their own — until the freak 43rd-minute incident which took the game away from them.
Jose Enrique's attempted clearance cannoned back off Pennant's heel and into the net, giving Liverpool the lead and the winger only his second goal in 71 games for the club.
Seconds before the break Torres rubbed salt into visiting wounds when he rounded Harper and coolly netted following an outstanding ball from Gerrard.
Newcastle, who had replaced Milner with Geremi just before the break, fell three goals behind in the 51st minute, with Enrique again the man to suffer.
The Magpies defender failed to confront Torres, opting to back away as the Spaniard took possession. That invited Liverpool forward, and Torres sent Gerrard away down the middle to neatly chip Harper for the third.
Newcastle were now a shambles at the back, with Torres and Gerrard combining with ease before the latter saw a shot saved excellently by Harper.
Keegan sent on Obafemi Martins for the ineffective Damien Duff, before Liverpool replaced Gerrard on the hour.
Martins hit the bar with a fierce left-footed effort in the 68th minutes, before Dirk Kuyt and Peter Crouch formed the home strike partnership.
Sami Hyypia replaced Pennany after 78 minutes as Liverpool utilised a three-man central defence.
Harper saved well from a Kuyt flick and then got down to block a Riise drive, before Benayoun saw a diving header deflected just wide. as the Reds finished in confident fashion against a team who are heading in the wrong direction.
