Football: Liverpool go fifth after victory

December 30, 2011 -- Updated 2152 GMT (0552 HKT)

Craig Bellamy celebrates his second goal in Liverpool's 3-1 victory over Newcastle.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Liverpool are up to fifth place in the Premier League after 3-1 victory over Newcastle
• Craig Bellamy scores twice and captain Steven Gerrard nets the other in Liverpool win
• Newcastle remain seventh in the table after their fifth league defeat of the season

(CNN) -- Liverpool recovered from going a goal behind to defeat Newcastle 3-1 on Friday, a result that lifts them up to fifth place in the English Premier League table.

Although unbeaten at home, Liverpool had drawn six of their nine matches -- and the Anfield faithful looked to be heading for another frustrating evening when Newcastle took a 25th minute lead.

Ryan Taylor's cross from the left the ball was missed by Yohan Cabaye, but the ball struck Demba Ba's shoulder and then defender Daniel Agger's back before finding the back of the net.

Out with the old and in with the new in 2012

However, the home side drew level just four minutes later when Charlie Adam's cut-back from the right of the area was not cleared by the Newcastle defense and Craig Bellamy was on hand to fire home through a crowd of players to level against his former side.

The scoreline remained the same until midway through the second half when Bellamy netted his second of the game from a direct free-kick with defender Danny Simpson getting in the way of goalkeeper Tim Krul, resulting in the ball going between the pair of them.

Newcastle nearly got back into the game when Ba chipped the ball over the advancing Pepe Reina, only for Martin Skrtel to race back onto his line to superbly clear the ball away.

And Liverpool wrapped up the victory in the 78th minute when captain Steven Gerrard came off the substitutes' bench to net the third from an acute angle.

The result means Liverpool go above Arsenal into fifth place in the table, level on 34 points with fourth-placed Chelsea but having played a game more, while Newcastle remain in seventh after their fifth defeat of the season.

Manchester City and Manchester United head the table on 45 points going into the weekend's matches against Sunderland and Blackburn respectively.

Source: http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/edition_sport/~3/eRXAxoVgwBg/index.html

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