Liverpool 2-2 Newcastle
Liverpool surrendered a two goal lead in the final 10 minutes, as goals from Speed and Shearer rescued a draw for Newcastle.
The Reds were hoping to keep going a run which had seen them win their last 9 home games, and things were looking good in the first half as Liverpool dominated the game, and created a whole host of goalscoring chances.
Dietmar Hamann was the first to try his luck, but a long range effort failed to hit the target. A couple of minutes later and Owen had the first of many goalscoring opportunities, beating Shay Given, but seeing his shot at an empty net cleared by Niclas Dabizas.
The Greek defender almost cost his side a goal soon after though, and after a mix up between himself and Titus Bramble, Owen almost opened the scoring from just outside the area, but Given pounced on the ball to make the save.
Owen was certainly at fault for his next missed chance though. Gerrard played Owen in, and Owen beat the last defender to find himself with only the keeper in front of him but still fired well over the bar from close range.
At half time the score is somehow still goalless and Liverpool are left hoping that all the wasted chances dont prove to be too costly.
The Reds carried on in the second half where they left things in the first and Hyypia has an early chance, but fails to send his header goalwards.
But the deadlock was finally broken on 54 minutes, and Didi Hamann was again on target in this fixture to give Liverpool the lead against his former club.
Shay Given played the ball to Nolberto Solano, who was only a few yards outside his own penalty area and in a crowded Newcastle half, and with Solano under pressure from three sides, he lost the ball to Hamann, and the German international stormed into the penalty area before a cool finish past Given, to score his first goal since the sides last met.
Newcastle had created little in attack, and looked unlikely to recover even a one goal deficit, and Bobby Robson was forced to make a triple substitution in order to give his side a chance of getting back into the game.
Craig Bellamy was one of the players entering the action, making his first appearance since suffering a long term injury, and it was he who was to have a major say on the game, but not before Liverpool extended their lead.
From a Danny Murphy corner kick, Sami Hyypia attempted to jump for a header but was held down by Dabizas. Referee Graeme Poll was just 5 yards from the incident and immediately awarded a penalty.
With Michael Owen needing a goal to help regain some lost confidence, there was never a doubt as to who would step up to take the spot kick, and with Shay Given going the wrong way, Owen casually put the ball into the opposite side of the goal to put Liverpool firmly in the driving seat.
Newcastle refused to lie down though, and with 10 minutes remaining, Craig Bellamy did brilliantly on the left hand side to carve out a chance for his side, though rather than taking a shot at goal himself, the striker passed to Speed who was unmarked, and his first time shot left Dudek with no chance.
Liverpool tried hard to gain a third goal, but Emile Heskey was guilty of missing a free header from four yards out, instead putting the ball over the bar.
It was to prove a costly miss as Newcastle continually broke on the counter attack in search of a late equaliser, and after winning a corner, the visitors were rewarded for their efforts when Alan Shearer headed Newcastle level with only a couple of minutes remaining.
It could have been even worse for the Reds, as Abel Xavier was cuaght out of position for a late Newcastle attack down their left hand side, though Shearer's shot brought out a smart save by Dudek.
It would have been a cruel blow for Liverpool to have lost the match after being on top of the game for 80 minutes, but they were made to ultimately pay for so many missed chances.
Final score: Liverpool 2-2 Newcastle.
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