Joe Allen and Raheem Sterling ensure Liverpool go into FA Cup semi-final on a high

GOALS are rarely in short supply in this fixture in the Premier League years – the two clubs have shared 130 of them.

Raheem Sterling Player Profile

Unfortunately for Newcastle, Liverpool have scored the bulk of them – who can forget the two 4-3 thrillers at Anfield that the Merseyside club edged in the mid-1990s or the 6-0 spanking they handed out at St James’ Park in 2013.

It should have been another high-scoring affair last night but Liverpool managed only two despite a plethora of chances.

Raheem Sterling taking only nine minutes to put the home side ahead and focus the attention – temporarily at least – back on his football rather than off-the-field distractions.

It should have opened the floodgates but somehow Newcastle survived for another hour. Sterling should have had another but missed a sitter in the second half, although Joe Allen spared his blushes, as Liverpool made hard work of what should have been an easy night.

After their dismal run in 2015, the last place Newcastle needed to come to was Anfield where they have lost 16 and drawn three of their previous 19 visits, stretching back to April 1994 when goals from Rob Lee and Andy Cole gave Kevin Keegan’s cavalier team a 2-0 win.

There was a nice touch before kick-off with Newcastle legend Bobby Moncur laying a wreath at the Hillsborough memorial - the 26th anniversary of the disaster is tomorrow.

Many Newcastle fans may have said good riddance to Alan Pardew but you wonder why when you compare his record since taking over Crystal Palace to John Carver, his replacement at St James’ Park. With Palace safe in mid-table Pardew could not be blamed for a smug smile of satisfaction at the struggles of his former club.

Sterling AllenGETTY

Sterling and Allen sealed all three points for Liverpool

The Geordies have now won only two of their 14 games since the turn of the year and in the first half, at least, they did little to dispel the theory that they have already have the deck chairs out, even though, standing on 35 points, they are still not safe from the drop.

Sometimes it’s hard to go from being a coach and the players’ confidant to becoming the man making the harsh decisions for the benefit of the team. With the club in the position they are in, the players know Carver won’t be in charge next season. They may well have eased off under him, however subconsciously. And ease off in the cut-throat world of the Premier League and you will not win games.

Liverpool could have been home and hosed by half-time but Newcastle should have had a stonewall penalty when Dejan Lovren swiped Ayoze Perez’s legs away a good yard inside the area.

Newcastle made more of a fight of it in the second half but Allen’s goal eased Liverpool’s anxieties and ensured they head into Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final on a high.

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