by Adrian Warner of "Reuters"

Ruud Gullit had promised the fans "sexy football" but the Dutchman finished his first match in charge of Newcastle United on Sunday suffering with a huge headache.

A 4-1 defeat at home by Liverpool which included a first-half hat-trick from striker Michael Owen, left the former Dutch international in no doubt that he has a great deal of work to do to make Newcastle a force in the English premier league. The fanatical Newcastle faithful, who had started the match full of hope as they welcomed Gullit with deafening cheers, saw Owen use his blistering pace to expose their team's hesitant defence three times in just over a quarter of an hour.

The World Cup striker's goals in the 17th, 18th and 32nd minutes and a fourth from Czech Patrik Berger just before the interval put Liverpool on top of the table with seven points from their opening three games.

But it made depressing viewing for former Chelsea boss Gullit who started the match in the stands, intending to study his new team from a distance, but ended it screaming orders from the dugout at the side of the pitch.

Some of the home fans held up a banner at the start of the match which read: "We love sexy football." But they were trailing away from the ground before the finish, disappointed by a Newcastle defence which at times looked limp and listless.

Gullit admitted he had not expected miracles at a club which now have just two points from their opening three games.

"I knew it was going to be like that. I just wanted to see it with my own eyes," Gullit said. "It will take some time to do something about it. But we will work on it.

"Of course when you play like that in the first half, it is difficult to get back in the second."

The game started badly for Newcastle when they lost German international midfielder Dietmar Hamann with an injury in the first quarter-of-an hour.

Soon afterwards Owen struck his first after Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given was unable to hold on to a fierce long-range shot from the impressive Paul Ince.

The Liverpool striker pounced to fire the ball in from a narrow angle at the right-hand post.

Just over a minute later, Owen beat the Newcastle defence for pace again, racing through to take a clever through-pass from England international Steve McManaman on the right-hand side of the box and fire the ball through Given's legs.

His third goal was superb, sprinting past a trio of defenders before placing the ball brilliantly into the right-hand corner with the outside of his foot. Newcastle's defence looked amateurish in comparison.

French World Cup striker Stephane Guivarc'h scored a consolation goal from the home team in the 28th minute, his first for the club.

But it was teenager Owen, a household name in England after his World Cup exploits, who impressed with his brilliant finishing which could make Liverpool serious championship challengers this season.

"I like the third goal the best," he said. ``It was a special hat-trick. It is always nice to be on top of the table whether it is the start or the finish of the season."

On Sunday's form, Gullit's team are unlikely to be challenging them for some time yet.