NEWCASTLE manager Sir Bobby Robson dismissed his side's Premiership title claims despite a victory over Liverpool he rated as "immense'' at St. James' Park last night.

Robson joked that the only way the championship could come to Tyneside would be if the Magpies were able to play all their remaining games at home.

United have now won ten of their 11 Premiership matches at St. James' and have strung together nine successive League successes.

They are level on points with third-placed Chelsea, three behind Manchester United and eight in arrears of pace-setting champions Arsenal - with a game in hand on all three sides.

But Robson has narrowed the title race down to two clubs. He said: "I don't think we will win the League. I think Arsenal or Man. United will win the League.

"But, as I've already said, we will make it difficult for them to win it.

"If we could play all our matches at home, we might win the title!''

Robson was delighted with the win against fast-fading Liverpool, who had midfielder Salif Diao sent off in the 66th minute for a second yellow card after a reckless challenge on Andy Griffin.

The game went ahead after two pitch inspections by referee Dermot Gallagher.

And, despite being without three key midfielders in Kieron Dyer, Gary Speed and Nolberto Solano, Robson said: "I wanted the game on.

"I was on the pitch beforehand to make sure the referee made the right decision!

"We had five midfielders out in all because Hugo Viana and Jamie McClen aren't available. Liverpool had four big players out in Michael Owen, Emile Heskey, Didi Hamann and Danny Murphy.

"So it's a splendid result - an immense victory. Liverpool are very competitive, which you saw here.''

Laurent Robert's second goal of the season was enough to secure the win for Newcastle.

The Frenchman was in the headlines after Sunday's 2-1 home win over Tottenham when he angrily confronted a local journalist.

And a tongue-in-cheek Robson, addressing the media in last night's post-match press conference, said: "I suggest he hits one of you every time - and that will improve his performance!

"Clarence Acuna was magnificent for us. He was like a dog; he challenged and bit and was combative. Young Brian Kerr also came in and did well and Andy O'Brien had a marvellous game.''

Newcastle will start re-laying their notorious pitch today. Robson said: "What is underneath the pitch is not right and I think that has to be addressed. It's going to be an expensive job but we need to do it.''

Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier said: "The pitch probably helped them more than us.

"But we were beaten by a superior side. It'll be difficult for us to win the title now, but you don't commit suicide before the end of the season.''

Robson revealed that Kieron Dyer, ruled out last night with a calf injury, could be fit for Sunday's FA Cup third-round tie at Wolves.

* Newcastle are understood to have failed with a £9m bid for Leeds Middlesbrough-born centre-back Jonathan Woodgate, but Robson would only say: "I don't speculate on speculation.''

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