Newcastle 3-3 Liverpool
Premier League, Wed, Dec 4, 2024
Shots
17 - 16
Shots on Target
6 - 5
Possession
41% - 59%
Pass Completion
79% - 88%
Corners
5 - 6
Fouls
9 - 17
Yellow Cards
2 - 5
Red Cards
0 - 0
&c
Newcastle's inconsistency hit new heights as, four days after failing to manage a shot on target at Crystal Palace, they played out a modern classic against Liverpool under the lights at St James' Park.
This 3-3 draw had everything as the lead changed hands several times, Newcastle taking the lead with a Shearer-esque thunderbastard into the top scorer from Alex Isak, who had clearly had his Weetabix.
Liverpool hit back after half time as freak of nature Salah started to warm to the task, slotting a ball across the box for Jones to hammer into the roof of the net.
Anthony Gordon gleefully restored the lead ten minutes later, though it was far from his first notable involvement in the game, spurning at least one chance and being crudely flattened off the ball by van Dijk in the first half, Salah then took centre stage, outrageously hitting the bar and scoring twice, the second in the 83rd minute, leading to that very familiar sinking feeling that's particular to conceding late goals against Liverpool.
For once though, there was something of a positive end for Newcastle as Bruno floated a 90th minute free kick beyond the far post, Kelleher deciding at the last second to pull out of going for out, Fabian Schar superbly sliding in to turn the ball in from a near impossible angle with the outside of his right foot.
Cue pandemonium, turning to bewilderment as Newcastle charged up the field with a three-on-one advantage, only for the referee to suddenly blow for full time.
We were 15 seconds over the allotted time added on, during which there had been at least one substitution plus other stoppages.
It's not often you see a game ended bang in the middle of such an obvious attacking opportunity, and in fact I can't remember seeing it happen before.
I have to confess, I don't actually know if the ref is supposed to apply common sense here, but I was at least under the impression that a substitution was supposed to add time on.
It sticks in the throat even more given Liverpool benefitted from exactly that during their heartbreaking late win at Anfield in 2022 (when I'm convinced Alex Isak had a perfectly good goal disallowed for offside).
I'll end on the positives though, with giant performances all over the park, Isak buzzing everywhere and looking back to his best, Gordon more effective on the left, and (whisper it quietly) Tonali and Bruno even working well together.
Bruno even won the bloody toss! Actually, I can't bring myself to end on a positive, it's just not who I am.
I'll end by saying we have to find a way to play with the same passion and intensity against lesser sides who just sit in.
Do that and we'll be back to our best.