One word player ratings: Liverpool cruise to win over limited Newcastle

Liverpool's return to 4-3-3 sees comfortable win

There isn't too many times that Liverpool fans would have been hoping for a favour from Manchester United, but yesterday's 4-2 win over City may just be the result that could see see the Reds into the Champions League next season. Brendan Rodgers side needed to capitalize on the Premier League champions loss on Sunday, and did so tonight at Anfield when beating a ten-man Newcastle side 2-0.  There was no Daniel Sturridge in the Liverpool starting XI but Liverpool did have Jordan Ibe back and he made a huge impression in the vital win. A first half-goal from Raheem Sterling was added to by Joe Allen before a late-red card for Moussa Sissoko left John Carver with a squad already thinking of their summer holidays, while Liverpool are four off Manchester City in fourth. Here's how we rated the players in one word:

Liverpool

Simon Mignolet: Bored Glen Johnson: Braindead Dejan Lovren: Liability Emre Can: Unfussed Alberto Moreno: Busy Jordan Henderson: Controlling Joe Allen: Poacher Lucas: Workmanlike Jordan Ibe: Eager Philippe Coutinho: Dumbledore Raheem Sterling: £ Substitutes: Fabio Borini- MIA Rickie Lambert Passenger

Newcastle

Tim Krul: Firefighting Ryan Taylor: Overworked Daryl Janmaat: Clumsy Mike Williamson: Indecisive Jack Colback: Trier Vurnon Anita: Anonymous Mehdi Abeid: Spineless Moussa Sissoko: Indiscipline Remy Cabella: Wasteful Gabriel Obertan: Balding Ayoze Perez: Nuisance Substitutes: Jonas Gutierrez  Heroic Adam Armstrong Boyish Yoan Gouffran Uninspiring