Newcastle snatch draw in six-goal thriller against Liverpool

Fabian Schar scored a late equalizer as Newcastle held Premier League leaders Liverpool to a thrilling draw at St. James’ Park.

Liverpool appeared to have secured victory after Mohamed Salah put them 3-2 ahead with seven minutes remaining, having twice come from behind.

However, Schar volleyed home from a free-kick, capitalizing on Caoimhin Kelleher’s failed attempt to claim the ball, earning Newcastle a well-deserved point.

The Reds entered the match following an impressive win over defending champions Manchester City, which had extended their lead to nine points at the top of the table.

But they struggled against a determined Newcastle side that showed their intent early on.

Jacob Murphy nearly opened the scoring when he hit the post, and Alexander Isak stunned Liverpool with a superb long-range strike.

Anthony Gordon almost doubled the lead after a Joe Gomez mistake, but Kelleher made a crucial save.

Liverpool responded early in the second half as Curtis Jones fired in from Salah’s cross to level the score. Yet, Newcastle regained the lead when Gordon’s shot slipped past Kelleher.

Salah then equalized with a clever finish and later thought he’d secured the win with another goal, only for Schar’s late strike to deny Liverpool the full three points.

The smile on Liverpool boss Arne Slot’s face said it all when the full-time whistle was blown in this enthralling game.

Both managers had gone through all the emotions having seen their respective sides ahead and behind at various points, but Slot’s overriding one will be relief.

The Reds had claimed some impressive wins at home and in Europe in the past month, beating Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen, La Liga champions and Champions League holders Real Madrid, and Premier League champions Manchester City.

But this game was arguably one of the toughest they have had this season.

The Reds struggled from the outset to deal with Newcastle’s press while their makeshift defence, featuring Jarell Quansah at right-back and Joe Gomez alongside Virgil van Dijk in the middle, was rarely able handle the movement and creativity of Isak and Gordon.

But in the second half they showed once again they have the fight for this title battle, with the ever-reliable Salah leading their charge.

He exemplified their never-say-die attitude and looked to have secured a fifth successive Premier League win as his two goals took him to 13 for the season and top of the league’s scoring charts.

There was to be one final twist in this topsy-turvy encounter with Schar’s late strike, but Slot will no doubt see this as a point gained rather than two lost.

It has been an inconsistent season so far for Newcastle with impressive results like their 1-0 win against Arsenal at St James’ Park in early November overshadowed later that month by a home loss to struggling West Ham.

But this performance showed they have the quality and desire to reignite their challenge for the top four.

From the beginning they showed intensity and desire, with Isak – a fitness doubt for this game because of a hip issue – a constant menace for the Liverpool defence.

They had chances to go 2-0 up before Liverpool equalised, but for more than an hour they executed their gameplan superbly and looked in with a real chance of condemning the visitors to only their second defeat of the season after Gordon’s goal.

But despite the disappointment of Salah’s double turning the game on its head, they deserve credit for battling to the end and securing a deserved point.