Kelleher error helps Newcastle hold Liverpool in six-goal thriller

Mo Salah had scored twice, and claimed another assist, which looked to have Arne Slot's side on the way to a significant victory.

Newcastle United's Dan Burn and Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher challenge for the ball. Pic: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire.

Newcastle 3 Liverpool 3

MO Salah struck twice for the seventh successive Premier League game as Liverpool's talisman continues to let his feet do the talking in his contract stand-off.

But it wasn't enough to seal all three points against a dogged Newcastle side, who earned a share of the spoils thanks to Fabian Schar's dramatic 90th-minute equaliser.

Salah also weighed in with his 99th Reds assist and looked to have capped a memorable Houdini act for Arne Slot's leaders with a stunning turn and finish from a dozen yards from Trent Alexander Arnold's cross with seven minutes left to put his side into the lead for the first time.

Schar ensured an unwanted finale for the visitors in another memorable encounter between these old foes which had everything bar the celebrated 4-3 outcome which has become synonymous between them down the years.

Slot had billed his side's latest visit to the North-East as a more difficult prospect than either of their victories over Real Madrid and Manchester City at Anfield last week, and Alexander Isak ensured the manager's words proved prophetic as he broke the deadlock in spectacular style after 35 minutes.

There appeared to be little danger as the Swede latched onto a Bruno Guimaraes pass midway in the Liverpool half, but a deft change of direction left Virgil van Dijk trailing before Newcastle's top scorer unleashed a spectacular 20-yard effort which fizzed past Caoimhin Kelleher en route to the top corner.

With the visitors still coming to terms with that crushing blow, Anthony Gordon should have doubled the lead. Under pressure from the England winger as they competed for a lofted Isak pass, Joe Gomez botched an attempted back pass to give Gordon a free run on goal.

Usually so decisive in these situations, the Newcastle man lacked conviction and found Kelleher in no mood to be beaten for a second time as the Liverpool keeper stood up well to block a tame shot.

Both sides struck the frame of the goal in a hectic opening, Jacob Murphy bursting through to graze the foot of Kelleher's right-hand upright shortly after Alexis MacAllister had beaten Nick Pope only for his angled left-foot drive to catch the outside of the post.

The South American's frustrations grew when he picked up a fifth booking of the campaign for a foul on Schar which means the midfielder must sit out Saturday's Merseyside derby trip to Goodison Park.

The interval came at a bad time for the hosts, halting the head of steam they had built up towards the end of the half. Liverpool regrouped and were level five minutes into the second period.

Salah had been largely anonymous, but made amends with a low cross from the right which was met by Curtis Jones who hooked the leveller into the roof of the net with the aid of a deflection from close range.

Salah was again the line of supply when Liverpool came close to taking the lead before the hour, Darwin Nunez inches away from diverting the ball into an unguarded net from a Cody Gakpo header across the face of goal.

Newcastle made the most of their escape to retake the lead just after the hour. Guimaraes and Isak combined to release Gordon into the box before the midfielder cut inside Gomez to thread a shot underneath Kelleher which the Irishman should have saved.

Isak had an effort ruled out for a marginal offside and at the other end, Alexander Arnold made an instant impact off the bench to provide the cross for Salah to pull Liverpool level for a second time with a deft near post finish.

Murphy pulled his shot narrowly wide with just Kelleher to beat after being put through on goal and the midfielder's wastefulness proved costly as Alexander-Arnold and Salah again combined for what looked like the winner.

But that was only until with time running out, Kelleher inexplicably allowed a Guimaraes free-kick to sail over his head for Schar to divert the ball into the net from the narrowest of angles.

Newcastle (4-3-3): Pope 6; Livramento 6, Schar 7, Burn 6, Hall 6; Tonali 6 (Longstaff 86, 5), Guimaraes 8, Joelinton 6 (Willock 88, 5); Murphy 5 (Barnes 74, 6), Isak 9, Gordon 9 (Wilson 87, 5).

Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Kelleher 5; Quansah 3, Gomez 3 (Alexander-Arnold 67, 7), van Dijk 6, Robertson 6; Gravenberch 5 (Szoboszlai 67, 6), MacAllister 7; Salah 9, Jones 8, Gakpo 5 (Diaz 67, 6); Nunez 6. 

Referee: Andy Madley