Newcastle Stuns Liverpool with Late Equalizer in Thrilling 3-3 Draw
What a night at St James’ Park! The Premier League leaders Liverpool saw their commanding advantage at the top of the table trimmed to seven points after a dramatic 3-3 draw against Newcastle United on Wednesday. The match had everything: goals, drama, and a last-minute twist that left fans on the edge of their seats.
Newcastle’s hero of the night? None other than Fabian Schär, whose sliding 90th-minute equalizer punished a rare mistake by Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher. The late goal capped off a rollercoaster of a game that saw Newcastle twice take the lead, only for Liverpool’s talisman Mohamed Salah to seemingly snatch victory with a stunning brace. But Schär had other plans, ensuring the points were shared in a match that will be talked about for weeks.
Salah Shines Again
Let’s talk about Salah. The Egyptian superstar was, once again, the standout performer for Liverpool. His two goals not only kept his team in the game but also cemented his place in Premier League history. Salah has now scored and assisted in 37 Premier League games in his career, setting a new record. Oh, and he’s on fire this season, scoring in seven consecutive league games and overtaking Erling Haaland of Manchester City at the top of the scoring charts with 13 goals.
His first goal came in the 68th minute, a clinical finish from a pass by substitute Trent Alexander-Arnold. Then, in the 83rd minute, Salah produced a moment of magic, turning brilliantly in the box to fire past Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope. He even came close to a hat-trick, hitting the crossbar with an audacious effort. Liverpool manager Arne Slot couldn’t hide his admiration, saying, “Every time we need him, he scores an important goal. He was outstanding, apart from the goals he did many more special things for us.”
Newcastle’s Resilience
While Salah stole the headlines, Newcastle deserves immense credit for their performance. They dominated the first half, with Alexander Isak opening the scoring in the 35th minute with a thunderous strike into the roof of the net. The Swede’s goal was a thing of beauty, leaving Liverpool’s usually rock-solid defender Virgil van Dijk in his wake.
Newcastle could have extended their lead when Anthony Gordon went one-on-one with Kelleher, but the Liverpool keeper made a crucial save. Gordon did eventually get his goal, restoring Newcastle’s lead early in the second half from an Isak assist. Newcastle manager Eddie Howe was full of praise for Isak, calling it his “best performance of the season” and adding, “Those moments of magic can swing games your way.”
Second-Half Turnaround
Liverpool came out firing in the second half, and it didn’t take long for them to equalize. Salah’s exquisite outside-of-the-foot pass set up Curtis Jones to make it 1-1 just five minutes after the restart. From there, the visitors looked like they might run away with it, creating several chances and dominating possession.
But Newcastle refused to back down. Schär’s late equalizer was a testament to their fighting spirit, and even Liverpool’s Slot admitted that a draw was a fair result. “We were outstanding in the second half, but the first half we were not good enough,” he said. “They were really aggressive and forced us to make mistakes. But the second half was so much better, and we had much more control.”
What’s Next?
With this result, Liverpool remains at the top of the Premier League table with 35 points from 14 games, but their lead over second-placed Chelsea is now down to seven points. Newcastle, meanwhile, will take heart from their performance as they continue to push for a strong finish this season.
Here are the key takeaways from the game:
- Mohamed Salah: Two goals, a new Premier League record, and the league’s top scorer with 13 goals this season.
- Alexander Isak: A stunning goal and an assist in his best performance of the season.
- Fabian Schär: The hero for Newcastle with a dramatic 90th-minute equalizer.
- League Standings: Liverpool leads with 35 points, Chelsea follows with 28.
One thing is for sure: this match was a reminder of why we love the Premier League. Drama, skill, and unpredictability—it had it all. Liverpool may still be in the driver’s seat, but Newcastle showed that they’re not afraid to throw a wrench in the works. Buckle up, folks. The title race is far from over!
Originally Written by: Reuters
