They have now taken just four points from the last 30 and start 2003 lying

seventh in the table, 12 points adrift of leaders Arsenal.

By contrast, the Magpies are level on points with third-placed Chelsea and

have a game in hand on the three teams above them.

The absence of Michael Owen, who has scored 13 goals in nine appearances

against Newcastle, with a hamstring injury was reason enough for Sir Bobby

Robson to be delighted that the game was given the go-ahead after a 6pm pitch

inspection. But the smile on the 69-year-old's face could hardly have been

broader as he set of the dressing room at half-time.

Robson had described the St James' Park pitch on Sunday as a pudding, but it

was little short of a mudbath tonight.

A United side shorn of midfield trio Gary Speed, Kieron Dyer and Nolberto

Solano through injury, played slick football as deputies Jermaine Jenas, Brian

Kerr - making his first senior start for the club - and the outstanding Clarence

Acuna took the game by the scruff of the neck.

With Steven Gerrard and Salif Diao each picking up a yellow card within the

first seven minutes of the kick-off, Acuna and Jenas won the central midfield

battle hands down in the early stages - and with strikers Craig Bellamy and Alan

Shearer using their contrasting skills to put the Reds rearguard under pressure,

Shay Given and his defenders had merely to maintain a watching brief for long

periods.

Newcastle went in front when, after John Arne Riise had felled Shearer inches

outside the penalty area, Robert's wicked free-kick clipped striker Milan Baros

and sped inside Chris Kirkland's left-hand post.

Kirkland produced a brave block to deny Acuna a second with 22 minutes gone,

and the South American lifted a lob over the bar seconds later after thevisitors

failed to clear a Robert corner.

An underhit Andy O'Brien back pass apart, Given had little to trouble

himinside the opening half-hour - although he was called upon soon afterwards

when Gerrard let fly from distance and got his effort on target.

Shearer went within inches of his 14th Premiership goal of the season four

minutes before the break when he blasted a low shot just wide after Jenas had

tapped a short free-kick to him.

United had a late scare in the final minute of the half when O'Brien's slip

allowed Gerrard in, but Andy Griffin turned up in the nick of time to hack his

dangerous cross away.

Liverpool replaced Baros with 20-year-old Neil Mellor on 55 minutes, but it

was El Hadji Diouf who almost made the breakthrough two minutes later when he

went through on goal only to be denied by a superb challenge from O'Brien.

But their uphill task became almost vertical 11 minutes later when Diao, who

had been booked for a seventh-minute foul on Bellamy, lunged at Andy Griffin and

received his marching orders for a second yellow card.

Mellor forced a solid save from Given with a neat flicked header from aGerrard

free-kick, and Aaron Hughes managed to deflect a shot from the same player wide

after he had used his strength well to accept substitute Vladimir Smicer's

pass.

Diouf, who had also been booked early in the first half, was fortunate not to

follow Diao into the bath after a late 75th-minute challenge on Jenas.

Substitute Shola Ameobi had a golden opportunity to make sure of the victory

with six minutes remaining when Bellamy picked him out inside the box - but his

weak shot was cleared by Sami Hyypia in front of goal.

Kirkland kept out another Shearer piledriver at the death, but the points were

already safely banked.

Newcastle defender Andy O'Brien typified his team's determination as they

ground out a 1-0 win at home to out-of-form Liverpool.

Laurent Robert's early deflected free-kick proved to be the only goal in a

match played on a mudbath of a pitch as the Magpies climbed up to fourth in the

Barclaycard Premiership table.

The Reds had Salif Diao sent off for a second bookable offence on another

miserable night for Gerard Houllier.

O'Brien told Sky Sports: 'It was very difficult. I understand the pitch is

getting relaid in a few weeks but we're used to it. The team spirit is there,

and this was a vital win for us.

'We had it last season and we were just determined to get the three points.

We've just got to sort out our away form and then we hope we will be there or

thereabouts.

'Liverpool had a few players missing, as we did, but we hope we can build on

this and come the end of the season we'll be there.

'We've just got to concentrate game by game and we hope we can keep going.'

Newcastle boss Sir Bobby Robson told Sky Sports: 'It was never an easy game

even when they lost a player. They never gave it up, and we had to defend quite

desperately to protect our goal.

'We've done that gradually over three years - and our perseverance, resolve

and toughness means it's not easy for teams to come here and win. If we could

play every game at home we could win the championship!

'I don't think we can win it - Arsenal and Manchester United are just that

bit ahead of us. Liverpool are slowly getting out of the chase. But they can get

back, I think.

'If we could do better away from home we could chase Arsenal and Manchester

United. It would be a very good team to beat us at home, with our work ethic.'

Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier conceded Newcastle's extra determination

helped them prevail.

'They won the battle. It was very physical, and they were better than us in

that area. I think we were a bit surprised by the pitch conditions - but we have

to recognise they were better than us on the day.

'The wall [for the free-kick with which Robert scored] was not good enough,

but it happens sometimes. The sending-off was the right decision. I can't argue

about that - he had to do it.'

Houllier retains faith in his team despite their recent poor form.

'We have the quality to get out of this run. Some players were missing today

- but we have the personnel to turn things around, not a problem.

'It will be difficult to catch up with Arsenal - they're 12 points ahead now

- but we never know what will happen in football.'