Luis Suarez saved the day for Liverpool in a 1-1 draw after a first-half goal from Yohan Cabaye had put Newcastle United in the driver's seat.
Liverpool vs. Newcastle: Final score 1-1, Suarez saves day for reds
The hosts started out the match completely in control, completely dominating possession against a shell-shocked-looking Newcastle midfield. Nuri Sahin and Suarez both looked in the mood to rip the visitors’ defence apart, but while the Magpies couldn’t do much in the centre of their pitch their back line was resolute, repeatedly pushing the Reds’ more dangerous players wide where they couldn’t do too much damage.
That strategy of containment served Newcastle very well, and it allowed them to keep the game level for long enough to take a surprise lead. Hatem Ben Arfa danced through the Liverpool ranks on the right side before sending in a deep cross. At first, said cross looked a little too long, but Cabaye took the ball down beyond the far post with his thigh and then sent a thumping volley past Brad Jones with his next touch.
With 43 minutes on the clock, it was 1-0, and that goal served as the catalyst for several more Newcastle attacks. Cabaye tried his luck again from range,
It had been a pretty sad first half for the home faithful, so the club apparently decided to give select supporters a halftime to remember by turning on the sprinklers and hosing a section of the crowd. Fortunately for said supporters, they were treated to a rather more thrilling second period, which saw Liverpool play much more direct football.
Suarez and Sahin both saw shots flash narrowly wide of the post before the Uruguay international drew the Reds level in the 67th minute. A long, raking pass forward from Jose Enrique found Suarez steaming forward. His first touch, with his shoulder, took Fabio Coloccini out of the picture. His second pushed the ball wide, forcing Tim Krul to commit -- in vain. His third rolled the ball gently into the back of the net to make it 1-1.
Another piece of Suarez magic nearly gave Liverpool the lead seconds later, but a last-ditch intervention from Coloccini denied Jonjo Shelvey as the midfielder shaped to shoot. At the other end of the pitch, Ben Arfa had a golden opportunity to restore the visitors' lead on the break, but having beaten both Enrique and Steven Gerrard the winger then directed a weak effort straight at Jones, allowing the goalkeeper to collect.
Any hope Newcastle had of snatching victory was dashed when Coloccini received a straight red card in the 84th minute, going in very late and very high on Suarez. There wasn’t a great deal of contract from the centre back, but there was certainly enough for Anthony Taylor to reach into his back pocket and dismiss the Newcastle captain.
But the man advantage wasn’t quite enough for Liverpool, who battered Krul’s goal in the final stages without making a breakthrough. A bouncing free kick nearly did Newcastle in in the final minute, but a relieved Magpies defence saw it it the top of the bar and wobble its way behind to confirm the draw.
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