Newcastle 3-3 Liverpool
by Roger Domeneghetti
at St James’ Park

THIS is what Newcastle do, the most predictable of unlikely results.

Following the tepid surrender in their last home game against West Ham, and their performance against Crystal Palace at the weekend, which was utterly devoid of creativity, the Magpies looked like a shadow of the team that reached the Champions League a couple of seasons ago.

But Eddie Howe’s team have a habit of raising their game against the top sides; Arsenal, Spurs and Chelsea have all been beaten at St James’ Park this season, while Manchester City were held to a draw.

Here against the league leaders, Newcastle dug deep once again.

It was Alexander Isak (who else?) who opened the scoring, riffling home from outside the area 10 minutes before the break. The goal was not undeserved. Liverpool had the lion’s share of possession, but Newcastle had had more shots and more shots on target.

But the performance was built on tenacity and aggression. Sandro “bite yer legs” Tonali snapping away at the base of midfield. Dan Burn, channelling his inner Hadrian’s Wall at the heart of defence. Anthony Gordon doing his best impression of a terrier, a frenetic, snarling ball of energy and teeth.

The crowd, a broiling cauldron of passion and noise, played their part. Liverpool, who have had it pretty much all their own way this season, were clearly ruffled, conceding two yellow cards in quick succession as they tried to stop Newcastle breaking in numbers. The break could not come soon enough for them.

It gave them the chance to reset and five minutes after the break, they were level through Curtis Jones. It would not have been a surprise to see them pull away, but Newcastle weren’t done. Gordon sent the crowd wild

The game became an end-to-end affair, neither team really having control. Jacob Murphy saw his dinked shot curl just wide. Mohamed Salah hit the underside of the bar. Both teams had penalty shouts waved away.

Salah slotted home a second equaliser with just over 20 minutes left, and grabbed what looked like a late winner with seven minutes to play.

Newcastle were running on empty but eked out one last chance from a free kick. Inexplicably, Caoimhin Kelleher left it, only to see Fabian Schar slide the ball home at the far post.

Come the season’s end, Arne Slot may look at this as a point gained for Liverpool, rather than two points lost.