Newcastle Utd 1: Shearer 61 (pen)
Liverpool 1: Murphy 6

Final Update: 90mins (12.30pm kick-off)

United: Given, Hughes (Solano 46), Bramble, Woodgate, Bernard, Dyer, Speed, Jenas, Robert, Shearer, Ameobi  Subs (not used): O'Brien, Harper, Ambrose, LuaLua

Liverpool: Kirkland, Hyypia, Heskey, Diouf, Murphy, Hamann, Gerrard, Riise, Pongolle (Smicer 51), Biscan, Otsemobor  Subs (not used): Diao, Le Tallec, Traore, Luzi

Referee: Graham Poll

Attendance: 52,151

SHOLA Ameobi was back in the starting line-up in place of Lomana LuaLua as United played host to Liverpool on saturday lunchtime.

Laurent Robert was also back after being rested at Wolves, replacing the injured Lee Bowyer.

Ex-United midfielder Dietmar Hamann lined up for Liverpool, though Gerard Houllier had to reckon without injured duo Michael Owen and Harry Kewell.

Unityed kicked off attacking the Leazes End, and Ameobi won a corner inside the first 30 seconds but Hamann headed clear from the near post.

On two minutes Bernard's cross deflected off Otsemobor for another corner, and this time the cross fell to Shearer but his header was just off target.

But it was Liverpool who took the lead on six minutes when a ball over the top caught was misjudged by both Bramble and Woodgate, and Danny Murphy nipped into slot the ball under Given.

Biscan's foul on Shearer on 16 minutes saw United awarded a free kick on the left, but when Robert swung the ball in Kirkland stretched to collect the ball above a crowded penalty area.

On 23 minutes Speed had a good chance when Ameobi flicked the ball into his path, but his first touch was too strong and Kirkland made the block on his near post.

Jenas then had two shots charged down after a goalmouth scramble a minute later as United tried to get back on level terms, then Biscan conceded a corner on the left under pressure from Robert but Kirkland eventually gathered the ball after the visitors struggled to clear their lines.

Jenas fired straight at Kirkland on 29 minutes from distance, then Otsemobor got the first booking of the game for a foul on Robert after being turned inside out by the Frenchman.

Robert took the free kick from the left flank, but Hyypia headed the ball out and when Jenas put the cross back in from the opposite flank Kirkland made the catch.

Hyypia's header on 37 minutes from a left wing free kick was deflected for a corner, but Bisvcan was adjudged to have handled when the ball came in and Liverpool's chance to double their lead was wasted.

Ameobi had a great chance to level on 39 minutes when Dyer sent him clear, but Kirkland raced out and made a great block with his feet, then two minutes later Gerrard curled a shot just over the bar after some good play on the edge of the United box.

Two minutes before the break Jenas shot just wide after skipping inside of Hamann 25 yards out, and despite being put under a fair amount of pressure it was the visitors who went into the break with the advantage.

Sir Bobby Ro0bson made a tactical change at half time, with Nobby Solano replacing Hughes, and the Peruvian's first touch was met with loud aplause from the crowd.

Given made two good saves four minutes into the second half, firstly blocking a Pongolle drive then smothering an effort from Gerrard from the other side of the penalty area.

Liverpool made their first change of the afternoon on 51 minutes, with Pongolle making way for Smicer.

Ameobi won a corner of Riise on 53 minutes, but Kirkland palmed the ball away then raced out of his goal to complete the clearance.

Ameobi then took too long on 56 minutes when he looked as though he was going to shoot and the chance went begging, then seconds later the striker was fouled right on the edge of the box to the right of centre but Robert curled the free kick just wide.

On 61 minutes United were handed a great opportunity to level when Dyer sent Robert clear and Kirkland brought him down so referee Poll awarded a penalty, and after the goalkeeper was booked Shearer made no mistake from the spot.

Jenas miskicked in front of goal as United turned the screw after levelling, then Hamann was booked for dissent after United were awarded a free kick but the set piece came to nothing.

Diouf was fouled on 70 minutes for fouling Bernard on the touchline in front of the East Stand, then Riise somehow headed the ball off the line when Dyer's sidefooted effort looked destined for the net.

It was all United at this stage, and Murphy headed Bramble strike off the line following a corner with Houllier's side on the ropes.

On 74 minutes Liverpool had a good chance when Bramble was robbed by Smicer out on the Liverpool right, but the Czech's deft curler with the outside of his boot rolled wide of Given's right hand post.

Bramble's booking on 79 minutes for a foul on Smicer was his fifth of the season - he'll miss the Charlton game a fortnight today - but thankfully for him the free kick was wasted.

Given made a superb save on 83 minutes, diving to his right to keep out Hamann's piledriver from 25 yards after a free kick on the left had been half cleared.

At the other end Kirkland pulled off a superb save to tip over Shearer's effort from 15 yards after Dyer's pass, and when the corner waqs taken Heskey headed away.

Biscan conceded another corner when he headed Woodgate's cross away from inside the six yard box, but again the flag kick was cleared then at the bother end Given had to clear Woodgate's short back pas as Smicer tried to pounce.

Newcastle won yet another corner as the game went into time added on, then Woodgate shot wide from the edge of the box as United finished on top and when the final whistle sounded the home crowd were windering just how their side hadn't taken all three points.