Dalglish - We Deserved It

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish thought the Reds fully deserved their victory after coming from behind to beat Newcastle.

The visitors took a 25th minute lead through Daniel Agger's own goal, but the Reds hit back via a Craig Bellamy brace and a Steven Gerrard effort.

The win was only the second in six matches at home after a proliferation of draws and Dalglish was delighted to get the three points despite not dominating as much as they had done in some of their previous stalemates.

"I thought it was a fully-deserved victory," he said.

"We showed great courage, commitment and desire to get back into the game after losing a goal.

"We equalised, Martin (Skrtel) had a great clearance off the line and I think we deserved to win.

"It's probably the game where we've created the least chances as well, but we've scored three goals. It's funny how that happens.

"I'm not relieved, just satisfied that we got what we deserved. If we got what we deserved in every other (home) game I don't think it would have been unreasonable."

The Liverpool boss praised Bellamy after his brace against his former club.

"It's not the first time we've praised him and it certainly won't be the last," said Dalglish of Bellamy, who left the field late on to have four stitches in an eye wound after a clash with Fabricio Coloccini.

"He took the first one well, because it was tight in the area, and the second one was a free-kick.

"The defender ran back on the line for some reason and Andy (Carroll) ran back with him.

"It went between the goalkeeper and the full-back - it was a good free-kick and may have gone in any way.

"We are delighted for him. We just hope his cut eye isn't too bad. As he came off, I just said congratulations to him."

Gerrard climbed off the bench to score in only his second appearance after two months out with an ankle infection.

Dalglish added: "When Steven's not playing, he's influential so I suppose you can add the word hugely influential when he is in the team.

"He's getting back to fitness which is fantastic reward for him and everyone who has worked with him to get him back to the level he's at now.

"He's always been a huge asset for the football club and he's got a lot of years to go yet and we'll look forward to that.

"I think we were pretty much in control any way (before Gerrard's arrival).

"They had a bit of possession at the start of the second half without really threatening, but obviously, him scoring the third goal helped us.

"He's put the pressure on himself now, scoring a goal, but it's great to see him getting his reward.

"He's worked really hard to get where he is. It was a freak injury, really, so the boy deserves a bit of luck in 2012."