If Liverpool’s failure to win in Russia had Jurgen Klopp tearing his hair out, yesterday was another tortuous experience for the German.
Newcastle should have been dead and buried at half-time as Liverpool laid siege to the Toon goal.
But defensive frailities and a failure to convert clear-cut chances once again proved the Reds’ downfall.
One win in seven games for a side struggling for form. Yet at times this season, Klopp’s players have scaled heights and Philippe Coutinho’s 23rd minute opener would have decorated any occasion.
But they are a team with flaws, magical one moment, just a mess the next.
And those worrying defensive frailties allowed Joselu to equalise for a Newcastle side who showed great character not to go under during a frenzied period of Liverpool pressure.
With Liverpool’s level dropping a notch after the break, Rafa Benitez’s side matched their opponents in the second half and could have won it in injury-time when they forced their first corner of the game.
Liverpool failed miserably to defend Matt Ritchie’s delivery and Mo Diame, who had only just come off the bench, should have scored but his shot deflected into the grateful arms of Simon Mignolet.
The visitors’ best chance of the second half came courtesy of a Ciaran Clark air-kick, letting in Daniel Sturridge but his close range shot was blocked by Rob Elliot and then Mo Salah fired wide of a gaping target.
Then, late on, sub Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain met Alberto Moreno’s cross at pace but could not keep his header down.
Even the most blinkered Toon fan would have to admit Newcastle were fortunate to go in level at half-time.
How the home goal survived a pinball-like assault in the 23rd minute when Liverpool hit the woodwork twice, had an effort cleared off the line and shot wide in a matter of seconds, defied logic.
And Joselu’s second goal for the club, cancelling out Coutinho’s wonder-strike, owed much more to luck than design.
Coutinho has now scored 17 goals for the Reds from outside the box and his 29th minute thunderbolt was as good as any of them.
Still, Benitez won’t have been happy at Jonjo Shelvey’s failure to close him down, allowing the little Brazilian to cut inside, look up and then missile a 25 yarder past a helpless Elliot.
Seven minutes later Shelvey did redeem himself with one of those trademark through balls, which bisected the two Liverpool centre halves.
Klopp would not have been happy with his side’s defending which left Joselu in the clear but still, it was hard not to have sympathy with Joel Matip.
He recovered well to catch a dawdling Joselu but when he went in for the tackle, the ball ricoched off the striker’s shin, rolling into an empty net.
Newcastle had started on the front foot with Ritchie and Shelvey having the first two shots on target, without seriously testing Mignolet.
But after Sadio Mane’s far post volley crashed into the side netting, Liverpool took firm control, threatening whenever they crossed the halfway line.
Gini Wijnaldum, still to score away from home, was inches away from finding the net against his former club when his header hit the post.
Mane followed up with another effort against the woodwork, Dejan Lovren’s shot was blocked and then Mane shot wide.
What a let-off for Newcastle though relief was temporary once Coutinho swung that magical right foot of his.
In this fixture on previous occasions, the floodgates would have opened. But the Magpies are a resilient outfit under Benitez and Liverpool lack the ruthless streak of yesteryear to exploit such situations.
Newcastle (4-2-3-1): Elliot 7; Yedlin 6, Lascelles 6, Clark 5, Manquillo 6; SHELVEY 7, Merino 7 (Hayden 74); Ritchie 6, Perez 6 (Diame 90), Atsu 7; Joselu 6 (Gayle 79).Subs: Murphy, Lejeune, Darlow, Gamez.UP NEXT: Southampton (a), Premier League, Sunday October 15
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): MIgnolet 6; Gomez 6, Lovren 6, Matip 6, Moreno 6; Henderson 7, Wijnaldum 7; Mane 7 (Solanke 74), COUTINHO 8, Salah 5 (Oxlade-Chamberlain 84); Sturridge 6 (Firmino 74).Subs: Karius, Milner, Klavan, Can.UP NEXT: Manchester United (h), Premier League, Saturday October 14
Referee: Craig Pawson 7STAR PLAYER: Philippe Coutinho – oozed classSTAR SHOCKER: Mo Salah – sloppy
Match rating 3
Your Turn Which Newcastle star scored seven goals in 69 appearances for Liverpool from 2010-13?
