BRIGADIER GERRARD; NEWCASTLE 1 LIVERPOOL 5 BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE STUNNER FROM ST JAMES' PARK Kinnear salutes Anfield skipper as Liverpool threaten to turn Prem title chase into one-horse.

Byline: BY SIMON BIRD

CAN anyone doubt Liverpool's title credentials now?

The imperious Steven Gerrard guided the Scousers to their biggest win of the season, orchestrating a massacre that could easily have seen Liverpool chalk up double figures.

Gerrard scored twice to take his goal tally for the season to 13, created another, and was so outstanding that even Toon fans gave him a standing ovation when he was substituted late on.

Toon boss Joe Kinnear said: "Gerrard was magnificent. It was the best individual performance I have seen for a long time.

"Today showed how far away we are from competing with Liverpool. They are in a different class. I think they are the future champions."

Sami Hyypia, Ryan Babel and a late penalty from sub Xabi Alonso completed the job for Liverpool, who with this comprehensive victory moved 10 points clear of Manchester United and three clear of Chelsea, held to a 2-2 draw at Fulham.

Frighteningly for the chasing pack, Fernando Torres was still in the stands injured, Robbie Keane was on the bench despite his Boxing Day scoring heroics, Albert Riera was also on the bench, and full-backs Fabio Aurelio and Alvaro Arbeloa were not involved.

On the day Mike Ashley tried to build bridges with Toon fans, Newcastle were utterly humiliated.

It was some welcome back for billionaire Ashley who announced just before kickoff that Newcastle were no longer for sale.

No one was buying anyway.

But Ashley now knows he has a team bankrupt of ideas, a manager lacking enough tactical nous to deal with Gerrard's menace, and a defence as fragile as the peace among the fans.

Just drop your asking price, Mike.

But this should be more a celebration of Liverpool's resounding victory than another examination of Newcastle's shortcomings.

Gerrard's performance was the highlight of a first half in which Liverpool carved out 10 good chances.

Had it not been for the brilliance of Newcastle keeper Shay Given, Liverpool would have declared.

Given did superbly to foil Gerrard (twice) and Dirk Kuyt, and then watched goalbound efforts from Hyypia and Lucas Leiva hacked off the line.

Newcastle, Given apart, were a shambles.

The big surprise was that it took Liverpool 31 minutes to go ahead. That was when Yossi Benayoun's cut-back was clinically finished by Gerrard.

Liverpool doubled their lead when Hyypia rose above Steven Taylor to nod home Gerrard's corner.

Newcastle gave their fans hope of an unlikely comeback when David Edgar nodded home at the front post from Danny Guthrie's corner in first-half stoppage time, but any optimism on Tyneside was to be shortlived.

Ryan Babel cashed in on comic-book defending to make it 3-1 and Gerrard grabbed Liverpool's fourth with the goal of the game, racing on to Lucas's superb through-ball to cleverly dink a shot over Given.

The ovation he got was a credit to the Newcastle fans, but was also richly deserved.

It was just a pity Gerrard was not on the pitch when sub David Ngog was tripped by Edgar while cutting inside, teeing up a penalty kick.

A hat-trick would have been a fitting reward for the Anfield skipper. Instead Alonso was on hand to slot home as Toon fans watched in dismay.

There was still 15 minutes to go, but mercifully Liverpool decided enough was enough and opted to play keep-ball.

Taylor was lucky not to be sent off for a senseless late body-check on Pepe Reina, and Geremi hit the bar for the Geordies with a free-kick.

With Rafa Benitez still sitting in the stands after his recent illness, assistant boss Sammy Lee conducted the after-match press conference and claimed repeatedly that Liverpool can get better.

On this form that is hard to believe.

When former Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan observed after a home thraashing by Chelsea last May that Toon were "a million miles away" from being able to compete with the Big Four, he was hauled over the coals by Ashley at a stormy meeting in London.

On this evidence they are a million light years away.

NEWCASTLE: Given 8, Edgar 5, Coloccini 3, Taylor 3, Enrique 2 (Ameobi 5), Gutierrez 4, Butt 3 (Geremi 57, 5), Guthrie 4, N'Zogbia 4, Duff 5, Owen 3 (LuaLua 78)

LIVERPOOL: Reina 6, Carragher 7, Agger 7, Hyppia 8, Insua 7, Benayoun 7 (Alonso 60, 7), Mascherano 8, Lucas 8, Babel 8, Gerrard 9 (Ngog 70, 6), Kuyt 8 (Skirtel 78)

REF: M Halsey ATT: 52,114

COMPUTER

NEWCASTLE

LIVERPOOL

DEADLY REDS LOOKING GOOD FOR THE TITLE

52% BALL POSSESSION 48%

FACE TO FACE

4 Corners 9

3 Offside 5

77% Pass completion 87%

18 Tackles 20

7 Fouls 11

2 Cards 1

SHOTS

3 off target 9

6 on target 13

MAN OF THE MATCH (Worth an extra two Fantasy League points)

Steven Gerrard (LIVERPOOL) 9

Two great goals capped a scintillating performance

VILLAIN OF THE MATCH

Jose Enrique (NEWCASTLE) 2

Horribly exposed for the opener and never recovered

ANORAK

This is Liverpool's best win since a 5-0 mauling of West Brom on Boxing Day 2004.

NEXT THREE GAMES

NEWCASTLE

Sat: Hull (a) FA Cup

Sat, Jan 10: West Ham (h): Prem

Sat, Jan 17: Blackburn (a) Prem

LIVERPOOL

Sat: Preston (a) FA Cup

Sat, Jan 10: Stoke (a) Prem

Mon, Jan 19: Everton (h) Prem

CAPTION(S):

0-1 Gerrard celebrates the opener; 0-2 Hyypia rises to head in a corner; 1-2 Edgar gives the Geordies some hope; 1-3 Ryan Babel restores the two-goal lead; 1-4 A cool finish gives Gerrard his 2nd goal; 1-5 Alonso adds to the rout with penalty; WE CAN KOP TITLE NOW.. Gerrard celebrates the hammering with Alonso and Lucas