Steve Nicol finished like a centre-forward.

His third goal at St James’ Park came from a run beyond Newcastle’s defence and a chip over the advancing Gary Kelly. It completed his hat-trick and Liverpool’s 4–1 victory on 20 September 1987.

Best known as a full-back, Nicol had been selected on the right of midfield. Kenny Dalglish’s decision gave Liverpool an additional runner whom Newcastle repeatedly failed to contain.

Liverpool arrived unbeaten, with four wins and a draw from their opening five league matches. Peter Beardsley was returning to his former club, and his understanding with John Barnes helped Liverpool take control.

The opening goal began with Barnes and Beardsley combining on the left. Barnes’s delivery came off John Anderson, and Nicol took the opportunity to put Liverpool ahead.

Barnes supplied the next goal too. Barry Venison crossed from the right, Barnes headed the ball back across goal and John Aldridge finished. Liverpool had a two-goal lead before half-time, with their attacking players creating chances for one another from both sides of the pitch.

Nicol also had a curling finish disallowed for offside. In a later interview, he recalled that Aldridge’s position had cost him a fourth goal. Newcastle were struggling to stop his runs; early in the second half, another brought Liverpool’s third.

Beardsley broke clear on the left and squared for Nicol to finish from close range. Years afterwards, Nicol admitted that he had mishit the apparently simple finish. He had nevertheless followed the attack into precisely the right position.

Newcastle pulled one back through Neil McDonald’s penalty after Gary Gillespie was penalised for a challenge on Mirandinha. But Nicol restored the three-goal margin, running onto Aldridge’s pass and lifting his finish over Kelly. His movement beyond the defence had again given Liverpool a clear route to goal.

The victory left Liverpool third, three points behind leaders Queens Park Rangers with two games in hand. They had won five of their first six league matches and scored 16 goals.

Six of those goals belonged to Nicol. He had already scored the winner at Arsenal and twice at Coventry; now he had added a hat-trick at Newcastle. Liverpool’s attacking threat extended well beyond the men selected up front.

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