Jurgen Klopp was left frustrated at Liverpool’s finishing as Newcastle fought for a brave draw.
A super strike from Phillipe Coutinho, his third in three games wasn’t enough.
Joselu equalised for United while Daniel Sturride and Mo Salah missed clear chances to win the game.
It is just one win in seven games in all competitions now for Klopp’s men.
After poor finishing ruined their chance of beating Spartak Moscow in midweek, they again failed to finish the job against a battling Newcastle.
It took a world class strike from Coutinho to break Newcastle’s resistance after 29 minutes.
The home side failed to get the ball clear twice, through Jamaal Lascelles and Matt Ritchie, and Coutinho collected 30 yards out.
There should have been little danged but be took a step goalward past Jonjo Shelvey, who was not tight enough, and unleashed a rocket.
Liverpool started sharp with Newcastle spoiling as best they could.
But they took their only clear chance of the half after 36 minutes.
Spanish striker Joselu was put clear on goal by an excellent pass from Jonjo Shelvey.
As he shaped to shoot right footed, Joel Matip hacked the ball against Joselu’s left shin, and it rolled pass Mignolet.
Wasteful finishing saw Liverpool squander another great chance after 50 minutes. A air-shot clearance by Ciaran Clark let Daniel Sturridge in by Rob Elliot saved brilliantly and Mo Salah smashed the rebound over.
Klopp played his attacking big guns –Sturridge, Sala, Coutinho and Mane all starting.
They stretched the home side, unpicking the defensive line leaving Sturridge to have a fine chance blocked after 17 minutes.
United’s goal led a charmed life.
Old boy Gini Wijnaldum hit the bar from a Coutinho corner, Dejan Lovren had the rebound blocked on the line by DeAndre Yedlin, and Mane fired wide. Pinball the box.
Earlier Matt Ritchie curled in a decent shot which Simon Mignolet saved.
Follow all the action, as it happened, below...
5 Talking Points
Newcastle held Liverpool to a 1-1 draw after a Philippe Coutinho stunner was cancelled out thanks to more sloppy defending from the Reds.
The visitors who broke the deadlock just before the half-hour mark when Philippe Coutinho curled home an excellent strike from outside the box, but their lead was to be short-lived.
The Magpies struck back ten minutes before the break when a Jonjo Shelvey pass split the Reds defence leaving Joselu free bear down on goal an level.
Neither side were able to carve out a winner after the break, as Jurgen Klopp was left ruing yet another defensive mistake.
Here are five talking points from St James’ Park...
Player Ratings
So, a point apiece on Tyneside.
Who shone?
Who struggled?
Who was man of the match?
Find out here with John Cross’ player ratings
Full-time: Newcastle 1-1 Liverpool
And that’s all folks!
Newcastle have a hard-earned point at St James’s Park.
Once more Liverpool don’t make their chances count.
Guilt-edged chances once more came and went for the Reds.
Now Liverpool sit 7th, on 12 points from seven games.
That’s seven off the Manchester clubs.
More frustration for Jurgen Klopp.
Just a few minutes left now, followed by injury time.
Last. Throw.
Of the Dice.
Jonjo Shelvey was brave there, heading off the line when he knew he was going to get clattered.
Lovren won the corner at the far post, looped it back, and Shelvey got there to head away.
Dwight Gayle coming on now, Joselu replaced.
He’s got previous against Liverpool of course.
Time for changes
Here we go then.
Both managers are looking to freshen things up.
For Klopp, Solanke and Firmino enter the fray.
Sturridge off, as is Mane.
Benitez introduces Isaac Hayden, replacing Mikel Merino.
Ayoze Perez is down briefly.
He’s not happy with a challenge on him.
Didn’t look much wrong with it however.
Just not running for Liverpool right now.
But Mo Salah is starting to get more joy, coming off the line in behind Sturridge and Mane.
25 minutes to go.
A few Liverpool players were holding their breath on this one.
Think the referee got it right.
Dismal.
Jurgen Klopp is furious because his side should lead.
An errant back pass from Lascelles goes for Sturridge.
His shot, clean through, is blocked by the legs of Elliot.
It bounces out to Salah, with all the goal to aim at (admittedly at an awkward height) and he spoons it over.
Benitez isn’t happy.
Klopp isn’t happy.
We’re still 1-1.
Back underway in the second period and it’s Liverpool again looking to push the flow of the game.
Interesting moment where Newcastle have a throw by their own corner flag...must have been 19 players in about 20/25 yards.
RIP Freddy Shepherd
Before the game, St James’s Park paid tribute to Freddy Shepherd, the former chairman and owner.
His family are in attendance today.
Shepherd was very much one of the figures behind Newcastle’s early 90s rise, and growth of the stadium.
It was also he who pushed for Alan Shearer’s world record transfer in 1996.
HT: Newcastle 1-1 Liverpool
So, into injury time.
Newcastle have had the little bit of luck and Rafa Benitez will be very happy to see his side leading.
Liverpool...well, they should be in front. Now it’s about what reaction Jurgen Klopp gets from his side in the second half.
GOAL! Newcastle 1-1 Liverpool (Joselu)
Well, how’s your luck!
First, a stunning through pass from Shelvey, dissecting the Liverpool defence.
Joselu takes too long and is tackled by a sliding Matip.
But, fortunately for the Spaniard, the ball hits his shine and trickles past Mignolet and over the line.
Newcastle level.
Well, that’s settled any nerves Liverpool may have had after some of the early misses (and those in midweek of course).
They’re very much in the ascendency now.
How do Newcastle respond?
34 minutes gone...
Yep.
Wow indeed!
GOAL! Newcastle 0-1 Liverpool (Coutinho)
Magnificent!
They can’t score from six yards, but Philippe Coutinho can from 25.
He jinks past one challenge, advances, drops the shoulder on Shelvey and unleashes a corker which Rob Elliot can do nothing about.
The little Brazilian does the business, and Liverpool lead.
1-0 to the Reds.
Liverpool gon' Liverpool
Well...maybe this will be just like Moscow after all!
Corner from the right, lovely flick from Wijnaldum hits the post- a really clever effort from the Dutchman.
The ball breaks in the six yard box and quite how Liverpool haven’t scored...well, who knows.
Dejan Lovren air kicks, Mane has it cleared off the line...just how haven’t they scored!
Early Sturridge
Daniel Sturridge has had one early chip go over the bar.
Since then he’s dropped in to link things but hasn’t had much to go on in the Toon box.
Can he stretch the Newcastle defence by running in behind and be found a little earlier by Coutinho and co?
Ritchie getting a bit of early joy one vs one with Moreno.
The Scotland winger is always keen to dink inside onto his left foot.
But Newcastle are getting Yedlin on the overlap and that’s giving Moreno a problem or two.
Newcastle settling into things quite well.
Not standing off, looking to disrupt Liverpool early and not allow anything into the likes of Salah, Coutinho and Mane.
Reds almost in straight away!
Well Rafa Benitez will be furious.
His side had good possession in the Liverpool half.
But then a blocked Shelvey shot saw Newcastle caught on the counter having committed 7 men ahead of the ball, and Liverpool were in, 3 vs 2 at the Toon centre-halves.
Only a poor pass from Mane to Salah, let them off.
For Liverpool, a chance wasted already.
We're underway
Here we go then.
Both sides have made their changes.
The time for talking is over - how do Liverpool come out after their Moscow criticism?
And how do Newcastle play this? Wait and counter or look to dictate?
Firmi-NO
So the big call from Jurgen Klopp today...dropping Roberto Firmino.
Often it’s declared he does more for the team than just goals.
In midweek, he was well off the pace. Liverpool should have won comfortably in Moscow - Firmino was culpable in that clash ending a draw.
Daniel Sturridge gets the nod today as Jurgen Klopp calls for his side to be more clinical.
Remember when?
Karl-Heinz Riedle. He knew where the net was.
That Michael Owen chap wasn’t bad either back then.
(Probably don’t ask Newcastle fans for their opinions of him, mind).
Words on Shelvey
Not just Rafa Benitez facing his former club today.
Jonjo Shelvey is back at the heart of the Newcastle midfield today.
Rafa Benitez prioritising possession in there with him and Mikel Merino, who has really impressed since arriving.
Shelvey was outstanding for much of last season but hasn’t got up and running this term (sent off on the opening day of course).
Time to change that today?
Crossy's team sheet
Our man John Cross is at St James’ Park today.
Here’s his teamsheet.
Huge fan of the picture he’s posted on social media - sticking his paper up against a window inside the stadium.
Genius!
About 15 minutes from kickoff now.
Warm-ups just about coming towards their end.
Will it be a good day for the Reds? Or do the side in black and white get three points here?