HELL FOR KELL
Newcastle 3 Liverpool 3: Caomihin Kelleher howler costs Reds all three points despite Mo Salah’s genius
Reds' keeper was the unlikely late villain, while Schar was the surprise Toon hero
THIS was an absolute throwback to the classic encounters between these two clubs in the nineties.
What a game and what a performance from both sets of players in an absolutely stunning second-half.
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Mohamed Salah must be wondering how he left the pitch with only one point after scoring twice hitting the bar and providing an assist.
He thought he had the winner when in the 83rd minute he grabbed his second goal to put Liverpool 3-2 ahead.
But Newcastle were worthy of a point and in the final minute of normal time earned it through Fabian Schar.
Howe had called on his players to ‘relish the test’ and they certainly did that, as did a packed St.James’.
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Right from the off Newcastle were on the front foot.
They hounded their opponents down in a way that Liverpool do at their best.
Three visitors found themselves in the book by the break, and each time, it was to stop Newcastle from breaking away after winning the ball.
On 34 minutes they were ahead and what a goal and what a noise to greet it.
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Bruno Guimaraes fed the ball forward to Alexander Isak who moved it away from Van Dijk with ease to give him the space to release a shot that curled into the top right hand corner.
What a chance Newcastle then had to make it two just four minutes after that.
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Gordon chased a long punt forward from Isak but Joe Gomez looked to have the situation under control.
The former Everton player's harrying, however, panicked him and his weak pass back was pounced on by the electric United wideman.
He was through with just Caoimhin Kelleher to beat as St James’ rose in anticipation.
The goalkeeper made himself big, Gordon tried to squeeze a shot through his legs but the Liverpool stopper blocked it.
It became even more costly when Liverpool equalised five minutes after the restart.
They were never going to play as badly as they had done in the first period and had come back out fired up.
If this is to be Salah’s farewell tour it promises to be a memorable one as heb provided a stunning assist to help put Liverpool level.
Mac Allister sent the ball forward from the back to Salah to stride onto.
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The Egyptian’s control is magnificent as he just rolls the ball around his boot without looking.
Lewis Hall may as well not have been there as he tried to stop him doing any damage.
He was just waiting for a teammate to make a run into the box and then with a flick of the outside of his boot Salah perfectly placed the ball into the path of Curtis Jones to fire into the near top corner.
Liverpool were up and running and immediately went in search of a second.
Cody Gakpo volleyed just wide and when he then headed across goal Darwin Nunez slid in at the far post but failed to connect.
But Newcastle were not finished and Gordon made up for his earlier miss by putting Newcastle back in front in the 62 nd minute.
Tonali laid the ball forward for Isak to release him but there was still much to do with Joe Gomez and Jarell Quansah in close attendance.
He turned between the two of them and fired a low shot past Kelleher.
What a game we had on our hands now as six minutes later Liverpool drew level.
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Trent Alexander-Arnold had just come on when he went on an overlapping run down the right and pulled the ball across goal for Salah to scoop in.
Even when he doesn’t connect properly they go in.
Newcastle almost hit back when Jacob Murphy broke free and Kelleher advanced towards him but his attempted chip landed wide.
It was all action.
Newcastle had cries for a penalty ignored when Isak went down under a challenge from Quansah.
Salah then hit the bar and then put Liverpool ahead.
Alexander-Arnold had changed the game with his introduction as he provided the assist again.
Salah had his back to goal and Dan Burn right on him but in a blur he turned and shot and the travelling faithful were celebrating.
It wasn’t over and in the last minute of normal time Guimaraes free kick looped over everyone including a flapping Kelleher and from the tightest of angles Fabian Schar slid the ball home.
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Ib the last second Newcastle broke three on two but the referee blew for full time.
What a game.
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