Newcastle United and Liverpool got the weekend's Premier League action off to an entertaining start with a 2-2 draw at St James' Park on Saturday.
Yohan Cabaye put the hosts ahead midway through the first half before Steven Gerrard levelled from the penalty spot after Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa had been sent off for a foul on Luis Suarez.
Substitute Paul Dummett then gave Newcastle an unexpected lead at the start of the second half, but Daniel Sturridge netted with 20 minutes left to secure a point for Liverpool.
Read Sports Mole's minute-by-minute report below to find out how the match unfolded.
Good morning and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage to today's Premier League meeting between Newcastle United and Liverpool at St James' Park. Team news should be in shortly.
NEWCASTLE: Krul; Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa, Williamson, Santon; Cabaye, Tiote, Sissoko; Gouffran, Ben Arfa, Remy
LIVERPOOL: Mignolet; Johnson, Cissokho, Toure, Skrtel, Sakho; Henderson, Gerrard, Moses; Suarez, Sturridge
Newcastle make two changes to the side that beat Cardiff City two weeks ago as Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa and Hatem Ben Arfa come in for Fabricio Coloccini and Papiss Cisse.
It's two changes for Liverpool as well, with Glen Johnson and Aly Cissokho replacing Raheem Sterling and Jose Enrique.
NEWCASTLE SUBS: Elliot, Dummett, Anita, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi, Shola Ameobi, Cisse
LIVERPOOL SUBS: Jones, Agger, Kelly, Flanagan, Alberto, Sterling, Allen
Right, back to business. Liverpool should need no motivation whatsoever for today's match as a win would see them leapfrog Arsenal and go back to the top of the table. They've been in good form recently, winning their last two matches against Sunderland and Crystal Palace respectively.
The return of Luis Suarez has certainly vitalised Brendan Rodgers's team, with the Uruguayan scoring three goals in his first three games since coming back from a 10-game ban for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic.
What about Newcastle? Well, it's been a typically-inconsistent start to the season for Alan Pardew's side but they can make it two wins out of two matches if they get the points today. As it stands, they are in 11th place in the table.
When it comes to a dangerman for Newcastle, look no further than Loic Remy. The French striker has been in lethal form so far this season, scoring five goals in all competitions.
RECENT FORM:
NEWCASTLE: WWLWLW
LIVERPOOL: WDLLWW
It goes without saying that these two teams have been involved in some classic encounters down the years, most famously THAT 4-3 win for Liverpool back in 1996. What a match that was:
More recently, the results have been fairly mixed between the sides. Liverpool have won three of their last six fixtures against Newcastle, while the Magpies have come out on top twice during that time.
However, Newcastle will be desperate to erase the memories of last season's match at St James' Park as they were spanked 6-0 by the Merseysiders.
Brendan Rodgers on the return of Glen Johnson to the @LFC team: "He's one of the best full-backs in the world, it's great to have him back." — Premier League (@premierleague) October 19, 2013
Overall, Newcastle have won 43 of the 157 matches played against Liverpool. The Merseysiders have triumphed 76 times. If you're a bit dodgy with your maths, that means there have been 38 draws.
Interestingly enough, there has never been a 0-0 draw between the teams during the Premier League era. Let's hope that statistic remains intact today.
Ten minutes to go until this one gets underway...
The players are just about to emerge from the tunnel. As you can imagine, St James' Park is rocking.
The pre-match rituals have been done and we are ready to go. It'll be Liverpool to kick us off...
It's been a fairly tame start to the match, but it's Liverpool who are enjoying most of the possession.
It's all starting to open up a little bit more now. Skrtel has to be on his toes as a long ball looks to be falling Remy's way before the defender heads clear. Meanwhile, Debuchy has a weak effort saved by Mignolet. The hosts are starting to find their rhythm.
The early ebb and flow of this match now sees Liverpool back in control. The visitors are looking just that bit sharper in and around the penalty area with their quick passing and movement.
Moses drives at the Newcastle defence before offloading the ball to Sturridge, but the striker can only hit a poor shot on the angle that Krul holds comfortably.
Both sides are struggling to keep hold of possession at the moment. Newcastle are opting to lump the ball forward more often than not, while Liverpool's midfield are being afforded little time in possession.
Newcastle put some pressure on Liverpool with a couple of crosses pumped into the box, but the visitors are up to the task of clearing the danger both times. The Magpies are still choosing to fire balls up to Remy. The Frenchman could do with some support.
CHANCE! First proper opportunity of the match fall to Suarez, who is allowed a free header from a corner. The Uruguayan thinks that he has done enough to guide the ball into the top corner, but it's headed away on the line by Santon.
That corner was one of about four in a row for Newcastle, who live to see another day. They should be worried though - Liverpool looked very dangerous during that spell of pressure.
GOAL! NEWCASTLE 1-0 LIVERPOOL (CABAYE)
What a goal from Yohan Cabaye to give Newcastle the lead! The French midfielder is more than capable of pulling something special out of the bag and he has done just that with a low, swerving drive from 30 yards. The ball skipped off the surface, giving Mignolet no chance.
CHANCE! Liverpool should be level almost instantly, but Cissokho somehow heads over from about six yards with the whole goal to aim at following a corner.. The visitors look very threatening from corners at the moment.
Liverpool may have had the better chances in this match, but Newcastle have plenty of momentum now. The home fans are in fine voice following the goal.
Good defending from Newcastle. Sturridge picks the ball up inside the area, but he's crowded out by about three players in black and white shirts. It's just not happening for the Merseysiders in the final third at the moment.
Another corner for Liverpool, another sniff at goal. It's Toure this time who is allowed a free header, though the fails to make a decent connection and the ball is hoofed away.
CHANCE! Cabaye lines another one up from 30 yards that swerves and dips on it's way to goal, but Mignolet is happy to see the ball go narrowly past the post. That was a fierce strike.
SAVE! Mignolet was taking no chances there! Sissoko's long-range effort came through a crowd of bodies before the Belgian got down late to push it away from goal.
PENALTY TO LIVERPOOL!
RED CARD! MAPOU YANGA-MBIWA (NEWCASTLE)
GOAL! NEWCASTLE 1-1 LIVERPOOL (GERRARD)
Where to start?! Well, Newcastle are now down to 10 man following a red card for Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa. He pulled Suarez down when the Liverpool striker was through on goal, giving referee Andre Marriner no choice but to send him off. Steven Gerrard stepped up to take the resulting penalty and put it away with little fuss.
By the way, that was Gerrard's 100th Premier League goal for Liverpool.
SUBSTITUTION: Newcastle make a tactical change as Paul Dummett comes on for Moussa Sissoko. Meanwhile, there will be two minutes added time.
YELLOW CARD: Bit of a harsh booking for Gerrard there following a trip on Cabaye.
HALF TIME: NEWCASTLE 1-1 LIVERPOOL
Quite a frantic end to the first half there, but the whistle goes and it's 1-1 between Newcastle United and Liverpool at St James' Park. Yohan Cabaye gave the hosts the lead with his long-range striker before Steven Gerrard levelled from the penalty spot after Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa had been sent off for a foul on Luis Suarez.
All in all that was an entertaining opening 45 minutes of football thanks to some decent attacking play and questionable defending.
20 - Of Steven Gerrard's 100 Premier League goals, twenty have come from the penalty spot. Portion. — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 19, 2013
You can read Sports Mole's half-time report of the action at St James' Park right here
Right, the players are back out for the second half and it will be Newcastle to get us back underway...
SAVE! Johnson surges forward for the visitors before cutting onto his weaker left foot. However, he manages to get a powerful shot away, forcing Krul to get down low and push the ball away.
PENALTY APPEAL! The Newcastle fans want a penalty as Remy goes down under a challenge from Skrtel, but in reality it's a great tackle from the defender. Top stuff.
It's now Liverpool who are starting to take control of this match. They're happy to take a patient approach, passing the ball around leisurely in midfield. However, that final ball just isn't there at the moment.
For those asking, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa will serve a one match suspension following his dismissal in the first half. #NUFC — Newcastle United FC (@NUFCOfficial) October 19, 2013
GOAL! NEWCASTLE 2-1 LIVERPOOL (DUMMETT)
Would you believe it?! Newcastle lead and it's the substitute Paul Dummett with the goal! A fairly inconspicuous free kick was launched into the Liverpool box, but the visitors defended it poorly as they allowed Dummett to creep in at the back post and guide his volley past Mignolet.
Despite the second half starting 1-1, there was a bit of a feeling of doom and gloom around St James' Park before that second goal. Now it's rocking again.
Liverpool look a bit shell-shocked at the moment. They don't have too many ideas when they get into the final third.
SUBSTITUTION: Liverpool make their first change of the match as Luis Alberto replaces Mamadou Sakho.
One area where Liverpool will be disappointed so far is in attack. Suarez, Sturridge and Moses have failed to make anything happen, despite seeing plenty of the ball. To their credit, Newcastle have dealt with that trio very well indeed.
YELLOW CARD: Yoan Gouffran goes into the book for taking out Cissokho.
CHANCE! You silly sausage, Tiote. He picked the ball up in midfield before running at the Liverpool defence. He had teammates either side of him but decided to go for goal, dragging his poor effort wide.
YELLOW CARD: Toure is the latest player to go into the book for blocking off Remy.
GOAL! NEWCASTLE 2-2 LIVERPOOL (STURRIDGE)
GOAL! NEWCASTLE 2-2 LIVERPOOL (STURRIDGE)
The visitors are level as Sturridge and Suarez combine! The Uruguayan burst down the left side before floating in a superb cross for his teammate, who was on hand to head the ball in past Krul. Simple but devastating.
CHANCE! Liverpool come within inches of taking the lead through Suarez, but his ferocious effort from just inside the box flies narrowly over the crossbar. What a hit that was, taken on the rise by the striker.
SUBSTITUTIONS: A couple of changes for Newcastle here as Yohan Cabaye and Hatem Ben Arfa come off for Sammy Ameobi and Vurnon Anita.
Ten minutes of normal time left. Are we to see a late winner?
SUBSTITUTION: Another swap for Liverpool as Raheem Sterling is introduced in place of Glen Johnson.
YELLOW CARD: Sturridge goes into the book for a clumsy challenge on Gouffran.
CHANCE! That could have been the winner for Liverpool right there. Sturridge managed to peel off his marker as Gerrard whipped a great cross into the box. The striker only needs to make a clean connection to put the ball into the net from close range, but he gets it all wrong as the ball goes wide.
If anyone looks like nabbing a decisive goal here, it's Liverpool. They're pretty much camped out in the Newcastle half now as they take advantage of the extra man.
Four minutes added time.
Some consistent pressure from Liverpool ends with Luis Alberto smashing a shot well over the crossbar. The visitors are really going for a winner here, while Newcastle just want the full-time whistle to blow.
Liverpool get a free kick right on the edge of the box with just seconds remaining, but Suarez's curled effort is pushed away by Krul.
FULL TIME: NEWCASTLE 2-2 LIVERPOOL
Newcastle and their fans let out a huge sigh of relief as the full-time whistle goes. It was yet another thrilling encounter between the sides, but this time the spoils are shared. Not a bad way to start the weekend's football.
Anyway, that's all from me for now. However, don't forget that we have live text coverage of all today's matches in the Premier League, so have a look around and get involved. Thanks for your company, and goodbye!
Written by
Jack Prescott
Jack Prescott
