Newcastle United 3-3 Liverpool: Schar strikes at the death in six-goal thriller

Fabian Schar scored a 90th-minute equaliser as Newcastle United salvaged a 3-3 draw against Premier League leaders Liverpool in an absorbing contest at St James’ Park.

Schar pounced when stand-in Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher misjudged a deep cross from Bruno Guimaraes with stoppage time looming, scoring the sixth goal of an end-to-end game on Tyneside.

Newcastle had earlier led on two occasions, with the outstanding Alexander Isak holding off Virgil van Dijk before blasting into the top-right corner for their 35th-minute opener.

After Curtis Jones – on his 150th Liverpool appearance – swept Mohamed Salah’s cutback home for 1-1, Isak turned provider for former Reds target Anthony Gordon to re-establish the hosts’ lead shortly after the hour mark.

Salah then took centre-stage with a brace, converting two crosses from substitute Trent Alexander-Arnold to put Liverpool on course for a fifth straight Premier League win.

However, Kelleher’s late lapse in concentration allowed Schar to slide into an empty net at the death as Liverpool dropped two potentially valuable points in the title race.

Their lead at the summit now stands at seven points, with Chelsea and Arsenal winning elsewhere on Wednesday to cut their advantage.

Newcastle, meanwhile, are 10th, three points adrift of fifth-placed Brighton and Hove Albion.

Data Debrief: Goals galore on Tyneside

Newcastle’s meetings with Liverpool in the Premier League era have often provided entertainment, with two memorable 4-3 victories for the Reds in the 1990s the pick of the bunch.

Wednesday’s instalment did not disappoint. Newcastle have now conceded two or more goals in each of their last five Premier League meetings with Liverpool.

Indeed, the Magpies have shipped 122 goals against the Reds in the competition – their most against a single opponent.

However, the outstanding Isak spearheaded a major attacking improvement for Eddie Howe’s men, while Player-of-the-Season frontrunner Salah starred again for Liverpool.

Salah has now both scored and assisted in 37 different Premier League matches, overtaking Wayne Rooney (36) for the all-time competition record.

37 – Mohamed Salah has now scored and assisted in more Premier League matches than any other player, with tonight the 37th time in his career he has done so. Unparalleled. pic.twitter.com/qw7tAYG1fG

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 4, 2024