Jamie Redknapp grabbed the crucial goal in the dying minutes that maintains Liverpool's grip on a Champions' League place for next season, as the Reds overcame Newcastle United 2-1 at Anfield.

The midfielder has been virtually inactive since November after knee surgery - just 14 minutes of action in two substitute appearances in Liverpool's previous couple of matches his only efforts since.

And, with Liverpool struggling to breakdown a determined Newcastle, who had clawed their way back level in the second half, Redknapp was sent on with just 12 minutes to go.

It proved an inspired substitution as, two minutes from the end of normal time, the England midfielder headed the goal that was to give his side victory.

Redknapp normally only uses his head to construct flowing passing moves, but this time he made sure Liverpool extended their unbeaten home league run to 12 matches.

England boss Kevin Keegan was in the directors' box, presumably to see Emile Heskey in his new surroundings and to have another look at young Steven Gerrard and Newcastle's Kieron Dyer.

No Michael Owen, no Robbie Fowler for the England coach to assess, and he probably wasn't expecting to view Redknapp either.

But the Anfield skipper didn't waste any time to remind Keegan that he wants to be a candidate for Euro 2000 and he's fit, if not match fit, after four months of injury anguish.

Anyone who had much doubt that Newcastle are a different proposition than a few months ago had them ended at Anfield.

Bobby Robson's side were well organised, clear in their own minds about individual roles in the side and showing commendable concentration.

Their first half display, in particular, was impressive. Marking duties, like Warren Barton on Patrik Berger, Gary Speed on Gerrard and Robert Lee against Dietmar Hamann stemmed the flow of any attempts Liverpool made at attacking play, while there was always a covering defender to contain the strengths of Heskey.

The Geordies failed to create much more than scraps for Alan Shearer and Duncan Ferguson but then Newcastle were initially intent on a blanket of destruction.

However, Liverpool had the ball in the net after just 10 seconds, and many a referee would have allowed it. Sami Hyypia's long ball out of defence found a battling David Thompson, who marginally pushed Steve Howey in the tussle for the dropping ball before firing it past Shay Given. Referee Paul Durkin ruled the effort out.

It was very much a game of football chess from that point. Heskey couldn't shake off Alain Goma, although he did manage three excellent crosses on the run from the right that - had Robbie Fowler or Michael Owen been out there - would have been more profitable.

Otherwise Liverpool huffed and puffed and rarely got anywhere. Given dived at Heskey's feet, saving at the second attempt, while the Irish 'keeper held a swirling Hamann free kick and a long range drive from the German midfielder.

Sander Westerveld's only challenge was to get his fists above Ferguson when anything high came into the Liverpool box, and, in the first half, there were few instances of that.

Liverpool lifted their game after the break and, in the 52nd minute, Berger found Camara, who sent Gerrard scampering away before lifting a cross to the far post where Camara arrived to clip the ball past Given.

Three minutes later Camara tried to repay the compliment by sending Gerrard clear with a neat backheel. But the midfielder tried to take the ball round Given, who scooped it off his toes.

One more now would have finished it and Hyypia's volley from Thompson's corner saw Given fingertip the effort over the top as Liverpool fought for the two-goal cushion they needed.

But, after looking shaken by Camara's goal, Newcastle, with Kevin Gallacher now on the right, clawed their way back into the game after 68 minutes.

Shearer, who had done precious little to this point, met a long Aaron Hughes cross from the left and nodded it down and in off the far post with Liverpool's defence static.

It could have been worse after 76 minutes when Gallacher found space on the right to fire in a cross that was slammed against a post by Dyer.

Liverpool threw on Erik Meijer and then Redknapp to salvage something with Newcastle looking comfortable.

Danny Murphy was next into the action with three minutes left, and it was his right wing corner that saw Redknapp get a connection to send the ball looping under the bar, where Barton could only head it into the roof of the net.

Houllier had won the tactical battle with Robson after a game of cat and mouse throughout. Now he is so close to being able to pitch himself against Europe's finest next season.

Teams:

Liverpool: Westerveld, Matteo, Henchoz, Hyypia, Carragher, Berger (Murphy 86), Hamann, Gerrard (Redknapp 78), Thompson (Meijer 75), Camara, Heskey.

Subs Not Used: Song, Friedel.

Goals: Camara 51, Redknapp 88.

Newcastle: Given, Hughes, Dabizas, Howey, Goma (Domi 57), Barton, Speed, Lee (Gallacher 65), Dyer, Ferguson, Shearer.

Subs Not Used: Harper, Ketsbaia, Antunes.

Booked: Goma.

Goals: Shearer 67.

Att: 44,743

Ref: P Durkin (Dorset).