Toon rescue point with their iron Will
NEWCASTLE have waited a while to leave a late one on Liverpool.
So when Joe Willock struck to claim the point that surely guarantees the Toon’s place in the Premier League, it must have felt even sweeter that the goal came in time being added on for a VAR check that had disallowed Callum Wilson’s effort moments earlier.
The memory of Stan Collymore closing in at the Kop in injurytime to devastate Kevin Keegan’s title-chasers in 1995 still stings on Tyneside.
That Newcastle returned to Anfield two years later to lose another classic 4-3, thanks to Robbie Fowler’s last-gasp winner, only adds to the pain.
This was pay-back. Big-time. Against a club that thought it was above the Premier League this time last week.
While Steve Bruce’s side are on the cusp of safety after one defeat in their last eight games, Jurgen Klopp’s hopes of a top-four finish are hanging by a thread.
Mo Salah became the first Liverpool player to score 20 Premier League goals in three different seasons – and the home side produced more efforts on target than when they smashed seven past Crystal Palace in December.
But, for the second time in a week, they had to settle for a point after failing to see the game out.
“It is very tough to take,” said Klopp. “But you have to take your chances and we didn’t so Newcastle deserved a point.
“That is the first time we have been lucky with VAR and we couldn’t even take that present.
“Finishing in the top four depends on your results and we have taken something like five points off the bottom six teams, so that is not OK.
“Now I need some time to be angry and frustrated – and then we must go again.”
Newcastle spent the first three minutes of the game chasing shadows before falling behind to Salah’s brilliance.
Sadio Mane’s cross from the
Liverpool ..................... 1 Newcastle .................. 1 left was headed up into the air by Ciaran Clark and, when the ball dropped, the Egyptian held off Matt Ritchie before spinning to lash a shot into the roof of the net. Salah is just one goal behind Harry Kane in his bid to claim his third Golden Boot.
Although Allan Saint-maximin was giving the home side a few anxious moments, it seemed only a matter of time before Klopp’s side put Newcastle out of their misery – but Liverpool missed chance after chance.
Then, in injurytime, came the mayhem.
Wilson thought he had equalised when he scrambled the ball home.
But the ball had bounced off his arm before he provided the finishing touch and the letter of the law put Toon celebrations back on ice.
But Liverpool then failed to deal with Ritchie’s cross and when Willock’s shot flew off Fabinho and past Alisson this time there was no reprieve.
A relieved but disappointed Bruce said: “I am sitting here thinking we’ve scored two goals in the last minute and should have won 2-1. That’s me probably being a bit greedy, but VAR is killing the game.”