Gerrard arrested after nightclub incident | Debate: is Ashley right to stay at Newcastle?

They say that football is not a science, yet St James’ Park witnessed a dissection yesterday. Liverpool were like a surgeon’s scalpel, slashing at Newcastle United with a clinical efficiency that added authority to their claims on the title, their biggest victory of the season achieved without the signings designed to make them champions.

Fernando Torres is still feeling his way back from a strained hamstring and Robbie Keane was restricted to the substitutes’ bench – where Xabi Alonso remained until the 60th minute – but the absentees were not felt, in part because of Newcastle’s incompetence, but also because of the brilliance of Steven Gerrard, whose late substitution brought a warm, covetous ovation around the stadium.

Indeed, the Liverpool captain believes that his team can win the title. “We have to remain consistent, that is the key, but we are coping well,” Gerrard said. “If we want to stay at the top and be involved in this title race you have got to deal with the pressure, but we have big players here. This is the best team I have played with. You look around the dressing-room and from the goalkeeper to the forwards, we have some fantastic players and there is a confidence and belief there.”

To put Liverpool’s dominance in perspective – in the first half they had almost 70 per cent of the possession – Shay Given, Newcastle’s long-serving, long-suffering goalkeeper, rivalled Gerrard when it came to nominating the man of the match.

Alone among his teammates, the Irishman was free of culpability, making a string of fine saves.

Given performed until the end, repelling a firm header from Lucas Leiva in the 89th minute, and the caution he earned for hoofing the ball away in protest at the award of a corner spoke of the frustration that must have burrowed into his soul.

His actions speak volumes and a new rash of uncertainty is again engulfing the player, who has been linked with a move to Arsenal, while Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur have also shown interest.

The opening 20 minutes, in particular, when Liverpool passed the ball as if cleaving Newcastle in two, was the most one-sided spell witnessed at the ground in recent memory.

The chances rolled past like a procession: Dirk Kuyt shooting into Given’s throat, an effort from Gerrard held, one more punched away, a scramble and then a save, point-blank from Lucas, and Charles N’Zogbia clearing from his own goalline.

The team selection of Rafael BenÍtez – who, after his bout of kidney stones, was again watching from the stands, communicating with his bench by walkie-talkie – was vindicated. “It’s a squad game,” Sammy Lee, BenÍtez’s assistant, said. “We’ve been criticised for picking certain teams, but Rafa will pick whatever team he wants to do a job. This is about a squad and we pick a team that is fit for any given game.”

The return of Torres and integration of Keane will add further potency to Liverpool’s ranks, although with Gerrard in this sort of imperious form they could field George Gillett Jr and Tom Hicks as strikers and still hope to win. While Newcastle allowed him far too much space, the captain was almost unplayable, drifting across the pitch with a powerful alertness.