Newcastle stalled the pace of Liverpool’s ruthless title march despite Mohamed Salah magic, as Bruno Guimaraes and Fabian Schar prod a point for the hosts in a 3-3 draw at St. James’ Park.
Salah assisted Curtis Jones’ equalizer early in the second half, then scored twice off assists from substitute Trent Alexander-Arnold as Liverpool led 3-2 late.
WATCH — Newcastle vs Liverpool full replay
But Bruno Guimaraes’ late free kick served as his second assist of the game, as Fabian Schar joined Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak on the score sheet for the deserving hosts.
Liverpool’s record drops to 11-2-1, and they lead second-place Chelsea by seven points. Newcastle’s 20th point boosts it ninth.
Slot, Howe compose midfield masterpiece of entertainment
Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe pushed the right buttons in his 18 on Wednesday, dropping Joelinton into a pure midfield role alongside Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes. All three were wonderful, and Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak were up for reaping the rewards of their industry after some off performances. The problem for Newcastle is that Liverpool eventually adjusted and got right back in it. Alexis Mac Allister and Curtis Jones had strong games but Ryan Gravenberch wasn’t at his best. Slot made a triple sub in the 67th minute with his team down 2-1. One of the moves was Trent Alexander-Arnold into the game for Joe Gomez, and the England star set up both of Salah’s goals in short order. This could’ve gone 5-4 either way, but a 3-3 result is just (though Newcastle fans will be spend their walks home talking about the 3v1 that was stopped by the final whistle). Good entertainment, and Howe needed a performance like this.
Newcastle vs Liverpool player ratings
Newcastle vs Liverpool player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Newcastle vs Liverpool player ratings (from fotmob.com)
What’s next?
Liverpool go to Everton at 7:30am ET Saturday for a Merseyside derby, then travel to Girona in the UEFA Champions League.
Newcastle go to Brentford at 10am Saturday.
Newcastle vs Liverpool final score: 3-3
Goalscorers: Alexander Isak 35', Curtis Jones 51', Anthony Gordon 63', Mohamed Salah 68', 83'; Fabian Schar 90'
Newcastle vs Liverpool live updates — By Nick Mendola
Fabian Schar goal! Newcastle 3-3 Liverpool (90th minute)
Bruno Guimaraes sends in a free kick and Kelleher should be able to collect it.
But he lets it go, and Fabian Schar never stopped tracking it.
It’s a brilliant, sliding acute-angled finish from the Swiss.
Newcastle subs
Triple sub in the 87th minute. Use ‘em if you got ‘em, I guess?
Sean Longstaff, Joe Willock, and Callum Wilson come on for Tonali, Gordon, and Joelinton.
Mohamed Salah goal! Newcastle 2-3 Liverpool (83rd minute)
Same combo.
Alexander-Arnold slides it to Salah with a cutting pass, but the Egyptian has work to do.
He touches, turns, and slams a low shot across Pope.
3-2.
Salah nails the cross bar
A great individual effort ends with a powerful strike that smacks off the underside of the cross bar.
2-2 now in the 82nd minute.
Mohamed Salah goal! Newcastle 2-2 Liverpool (68th minute)
Hall blocks Alexander-Arnold’s first attempted cross of the game, but not his second.
Salah beats Pope and it’s 2-2 in the 68th minute!
And with that Salah is tied with Erling Haaland for the most goals this Premier League season.
More history on that goal — Alexander-Arnold passes teammate Andy Robertson and two other players (Stewart Downing and Steve McManaman) for Premier League assists with 60. That’s 25th all-time.
Liverpool sub
Isak scores another beauty, but he’s offside!
Now Liverpool make a move, as Slot takes off Gomez for Trent Alexander-Arnold, Gravenberch for Dominik Szoboszlai, and Gakpo for Luis Diaz.
Anthony Gordon goal! Newcastle 2-1 Liverpool (63rd minute)
Guimaraes is having his best game of the season, and he feeds Isak with an incisive pass.
Isak always want to shoot. Liverpool know this, and the Swede knows that they know this and makes a quick touch entry pass to Anthony Gordon.
The Liverpool-raised Everton export scores across Kelleher
Pope makes a great save at the other end fresh off restart.
Should be 2-1
Liverpool are buzzing now, and Darwin Nunez has missed making contact with a headed pass from about a yard out from goal.
Borderline scandalous. 55'.
Curtis Jones goal! Newcastle 1-1 Liverpool (51st minute)
Hall is beaten by Salah, who has the ball on the right.
Curtis Jones and Tonali are in a lung-busting race to the front post, and Jones had the inside positioning to first time Salah’s cross inside Pope’s near post.
Salah’s eighth assist of the PL season has him two back of Bukayo Saka for the Premier League lead.
1-1.
Halftime — Newcastle 1-0 Liverpool
The Magpies deserve to be in front. Their press has been excellent and Bruno Guimaraes is having his best game of the season in midfield alongside Sandro Tonali.
Mohamed Salah and Lewis Hall remains the battle to watch, as Newcastle’s left back has been strong but did allow one decent chance to the Egyptian on his side of the pitch.
Shot attempts are 8-5 for Newcastle, who have countered well with their 38% possession total. Four corners each, and we may see winger changes soon with Harvey Barnes and Luis Diaz on their respective benches.
Kelleher saves Gomez blushes
Anthony Gordon takes the ball off last-man-back Gomez and is zipping toward goal.
Gordon still has Gomez on his back as he’s 1v1 with Kelleher, and he can’t beat the keeper low.
1-0, 39'.
Alexander Isak GOAL! Newcastle 1-0 Liverpool (35th minute)
Isak beats the line to a through ball and looks to have missed a chance to slip a teammate through the goal.
Instead, the Swede pulls out a sledgehammer from 20 yards and sends Kelleher clawing for air.
What a hit.
Gomez with a big tackle
Lewis Hall works a 1-2 with Alexander Isak, but Joe Gomez gets just a bit of the ball before Hall can power an in-tight shot toward Kelleher’s goal.
Kelleher collects the loose ball.
0-0, 34'.
Fine margins lead to Kelleher save
Alexander Isak beats the line and draws four Liverpool defenders in the box.
His pass is just a few inches behind Bruno Guimaraes, who loses momentum setting up his shot and allows Kelleher to save a low effort from 15 yards.
0-0, 24'.
Nick Pope’s turn
Near mirror image save from Nick Pope on Alexis Mac Allister, out for a corner.
Mac Allister gets the chance off the corner, taking the ball of Isak and shipping the ball just wide of the far post.
0-0, 16'.
Caoimhin Kelleher called upon immediately
Bruno Guimaraes takes the ball off Ryan Gravenberch and is down in a heap, but the Magpies are off the other way.
Anthony Gordon takes a sloppy touch but recovers to feed Sandro Tonali, who turns Alexis Mac Allister around and fires a hard shot on goal.
Caoimhin Kelleher gets low to his left and parries the effort, a good save. Lewis Hall gets a chance off the ensuing corner but knifes it wide of the frame.
0-0, 4'.
Newcastle lineup
Pope, Hall, Schar, Burn, Livramento, Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton, Murphy, Gordon, Isak
Liverpool lineup
Kelleher, Robertson, Quansah, Van Dijk, Gomez, Gravenberch, Jones, Mac Allister, Salah, Gakpo, Nunez
How to watch Newcastle vs Liverpool live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 2:30pm ET, Wednesday (December 4)
Venue: St James’ Park — Newcastle
TV Channel: Peacock
Streaming: Watch live on Peacock
Newcastle vs Liverpool preview
Eddie Howe’s side drew 1-1 at Crystal Palace on Saturday as they coughed up a late equalizer, but could have no complaints with the result after a lackluster display. That was impacted by losing Alexander Isak to injury early on and the Magpies have looked clunky in attack all season long. Still, they’ve beaten the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham at home and drawn with Manchester City at St James’ and will be hoping their famous support can drag them over the line against all-conquering Liverpool.
As for Arne Slot’s Liverpool, we are running out of words to describe their incredible start to this season. After beating Man City to go nine points clear at the top of the table they now 18 wins, one defeat and one draw from their first 20 games (in all competitions). That is remarkable. The best thing about it? Slot’s side are yet to reach anywhere near their potential. They could be more clinical and are still a little sloppy at the back at times if we’re been hypercritical. Mohamed Salah is leading their charge and Liverpool look basically unstoppable as Slot’s new calm possession-based style is being intertwined seamlessly with the high-tempo approach we know this Liverpool side can dominate with.
Newcastle team news, focus
If Isak is out then Howe has a decision to make. Does he start Callum Wilson up top? Or does he go with Anthony Gordon in a central role with Joelinton and Harvey Barnes out wide?
OUT: Sven Botman (knee), Jamaal Lascelles (knee), Emil Krafth (shoulder) | QUESTIONABLE: Alexander Isak (hip)
Liverpool team news, focus
Slot will keep on rolling with a similar lineup as Liverpool’s injury issues have just bubbled up. Konate and Bradley are expected to be out for a few weeks, at least, so Gomez and Alexander-Arnold will start again at center back and right back respectively. Nunez could start up with Jones also likely to come in to start in central midfield.
OUT: Kostas Tsimikas (other), Alisson Becker (thigh), Diogo Jota (chest), Federico Chiesa (other), Ibrahima Konate (knee), Conor Bradley (hamstring)
Newcastle vs Liverpool prediction
This feels like a game where Liverpool will be pushed to their limits physically and like in their 3-2 win at Southampton, they could struggle to stop Newcastle on the counter. Expect a similar game and scoreline as one of their stars will step up to get the job done. Newcastle 2-3 Liverpool.
