Liverpool's season was ignited by the Spaniard's moment of genius and a game which might otherwise have been notable only for its snarl at the death had a flash of inspiration by which to be better remembered. The last time Alonso scored for the Merseysiders was at Kenilworth Road back in January, the visitors' fifth goal in an amazing FA Cup third-round tie speared from inside his own half with the Luton goalkeeper Marlon Beresford upfield seeking reward at a corner. The Basque does not score often but when he does it takes the breath away.
This was a glorious effort, even if it owed much to Harper's stumble and slip as he turned, eyes fixed on Alonso's attempt from the edge of the centre-circle. Had he stayed on his feet he would have caught the shot with disdain. Instead the prone goalkeeper ended up pawing desperately in the direction of the ball as it dipped cruelly into the bottom corner. "Steve was distraught but nobody at Newcastle is blaming him," said the United manager Glenn Roeder. "If he doesn't slip it's a great long pass into his hands, but it's still a hell of a bit of skill [from Alonso]."
From then on in the Liverpool midfielder's every touch prompted a chorus of "shoot" from those delirious on the Kop, their team's season picking up new-found momentum born of their midfielder's opportunism. Harper departed with head bowed and, no doubt, cheeks burning.
That was harsh given his otherwise excellent display in his first Premiership start since April 2005. In 13 years as a Newcastle player the goalkeeper had managed only 32 starts, reliant as he is on injury or illness to Given to make an appearance. Harper was responsible for suffocating the home side's menace for long periods here, keeping the contest on edge until Alonso robbed him of his dignity.
While Liverpool had led by only one, Newcastle retained some hope on a ground where they so often flounder. When that deficit was doubled, this contest had been resolved.
The visitors had threatened to equalise on the break, but their route back into the game centred on a pair of vehement penalty appeals. Daniel Agger appeared to plant his foot on Shola Ameobi's leg, with Roeder just as incensed when the striker's subsequent shot appeared to strike Jamie Carragher's outstretched arm. "It was probably the best save of the night," growled the manager, although Celestine Babayaro went unpunished despite virtually catching the ball in his own six-yard box late on.
The visitors' frustration added to the sense of spite which spilled over in the tunnel after the final whistle, but in truth this match had long simmered. Scott Parker and Alonso had tumbled and tussled early on but, if that was little more than handbags, the palm to the face served up by Babayaro on Kuyt in the penalty area as the Dutchman attempted to wrestle his way through to Steven Gerrard's free-kick would normally demand punishment. The officials were nonplussed but by the interval the visitors had been scarred by Kuyt nonetheless.
Newcastle should have feared as much. Amid Rafael Benítez's pre-match comments had been a pledge that his forward "will score [eventually], I promise you". After four blank games since his £9m arrival from Feyenoord, Kuyt duly managed a goal and against the club who had initially hoped he would choose to move to Tyneside this summer. Just before the half-hour Alonso produced a wondrous pass to split the left-hand side of Newcastle's defence, Steve Finnan galloping to collect before sliding a cross invitingly across goal. Kuyt, stretching ahead of Craig Moore, poked the ball home.
It was the 150th goal of his professional career but more significantly the first Liverpool had managed in 344 minutes of competitive football. The Holland striker should have added to it before the end only to nod, then prod, behind. Craig Bellamy was equally profligate, clipping wide after benefiting from a kind ricochet.
When the excellent Luis Garcia collected Gerrard's pass as the ball fell over his shoulder, then guided a shot on to a post, the home fans might have feared the worst only for Alonso's brilliance to ease the nerves. A campaign has been revived.