Gerrard scores twice as Liverpool stay top

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard scored twice as the Merseysiders ended 2008 on top of the Premier League with a 5-1 win away to Newcastle at St James' Park in Sunday's early kick-off match.

Victory left Liverpool four points in front of second-placed Chelsea.

But the Blues had a chance to again cut the gap to just a point by winning away to Fulham in the west London derby later in the day.

England midfielder Gerrard opened the scoring from close range just after the half-hour mark.

Five minutes later Sami Hyypia made it 2-0 with a header from a corner.

But slack marking by Liverpool saw Newcastle, who before kick-off found out that owner Mike Ashley had reversed his decision to sell the club, pull a goal back on the stroke of half-time when a corner was headed in by David Edgar.

Ryan Babel though made it 3-1 to Liverpool five minutes into the second-half when he forced the ball home from a corner despite being surrounded by five Newcastle players.

Gerrard made sure of the points with a cool finish in the 66th minute before Xabi Alonso added a fifth from the penalty spot after Edgar brought down substitute David Ngog.