As well as Bellamy's tireless efforts, Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard continued his impressive return from injury, scoring a goal and providing some much-needed impetus as the Reds ran away with the match in the second half.

The Magpies had taken the lead at Anfield in the first half courtesy of Yohan Cabaye's deflected header, but Bellamy equalised just four minutes later and doubled his tally in the second half, before Gerrard put the icing on the cake with a late third.

Stuart Downing was the first to test Newcastle keeper Tim Krul, cutting in from the right and hitting a low drive towards the bottom corner which the big Dutchman held well.

The hosts were bossing the possession, but they were unable to create any telling chances and on 25 minutes, the visitors struck first.

Ryan Taylor cut in from the left and angled a cross in towards Yohan Cabaye, whose flicked header took a nick off the arm of Daniel Agger and nestled into the Liverpool net, with Pepe Reina helpless as he moved the other way.

The goal was the spark the hosts needed, however, and within four minutes they were level as Bellamy rifled in a low drive from the middle of the box after Newcastle failed to clear their lines following good work from Charlie Adam.

The Reds continued to look dangerous down the wings, with Bellamy particularly lively, but they failed to significantly trouble a Newcastle defence which was brilliantly marshalled by Fabricio Coloccini, who won almost every aerial duel against Andy Carroll.

Alan Pardew would have been keen for his side to retain better possession in the second half, and his team duly obliged as they frustrated Liverpool after the restart, who themselves were unable to pick up the tempo of the game.

Dalglish waited until the hour mark to introduce Gerrard, and the talismanic midfielder threatened immediately, whipping an inviting cross towards Carroll which flashed across the goal mouth.

The frustrated Carroll then spurned a glorious chance, as he latched on to another incisive Gerrard pass only to touch the ball into the grateful gloves of Krul.

Liverpool's frustration was not to last, however, as Bellamy rifled in a free kick from 25 yards which bounced between Krul and Danny Simpson to put the hosts in front.

Newcastle almost hit back immediately when Ba was played through by Cabaye, but his well-placed chip over Reina was brilliantly hooked off the line by Skrtel.

A moment later, Carroll almost netted against his former club with a close-range header, but it cannoned back off the crossbar.

With just over 10 minutes to go, Gerrard made the points safe, slotting home between Krul’s legs from a tight angle after being played in by Jay Spearing.