Xabi Alonso settled it from his own half.
Liverpool had spent much of the evening creating chances without securing the second goal their play deserved. When it finally came, in the 79th minute, Alonso beat Steve Harper from beyond halfway to complete a 2–0 victory over Newcastle United at Anfield on 20 September 2006.
It was a win Liverpool needed. Defeats at Everton and Chelsea, either side of a goalless Champions League draw at PSV Eindhoven, had left Rafael Benítez’s team without a goal in three matches. They entered the evening with four points from four league games.
Dirk Kuyt ended the scoring drought.
Liverpool had already threatened through Steven Gerrard and Craig Bellamy when Alonso found Steve Finnan advancing on the right. Finnan crossed low and Kuyt slid in to finish from close range in the 29th minute. It was his first Liverpool goal.
Alonso’s contribution to the opener was more conventional than what followed, but just as useful: a pass that released the full-back and opened Newcastle’s defence.
Liverpool led at half-time, though their advantage remained narrow. Newcastle appealed unsuccessfully for a penalty when Shola Ameobi went down under pressure from Daniel Agger early in the second half. At the other end, chances to put the match beyond them kept arriving.
Bellamy lifted the ball over Harper but wide after Gerrard pressured Peter Ramage into an error. Luis García then struck the post after Gerrard found him with a chipped pass. Liverpool were repeatedly getting into scoring positions, yet Newcastle remained one goal away from drawing level.
Alonso removed that possibility with a shot from a position where Newcastle could hardly have expected one.
He won possession from Charles N’Zogbia in Liverpool’s half, moved forward into the centre circle and spotted Harper off his line. Still short of halfway, he struck right-footed towards the Kop end.
Harper scrambled backwards and slipped. The ball travelled beyond his reach and into the net.
Alonso had already scored from his own half against Luton Town in the FA Cup that January. Now he had done it at Anfield, turning a slender lead into a decisive one.
Liverpool finished with their first Premier League clean sheet of the season and moved from 15th to ninth. Kuyt had his first goal, and Benítez had a second league victory. After three matches without scoring, Liverpool had won through a close-range finish and a shot from the other side of halfway.