Kelleher's blunder prevents another Liverpool win in a stunning six goals thriller

Liverpool are playing the best and the most entertaining football in England. Period. The Reds are in series of consecutive wins rarely seen in recent times in the Premier League and that streak almost continued tonight at St. James Park. After defeating European giants Real Madrid and crushing the current champion Manchester City 2-0 (it should have been at least 4-0), the Reds came to a tough enviroment and turned the game from 0-1 to 3-2, mainly thanks to a Mohamed Salah’s brace (and an assist). The Reds were on their was to record a ninth win in 10 Premier League matches, but their own keeper Caoimhin Kelleher prevented them with a huge last minute blunder: Newcastle – Liverpool 3-3.

Even the fact that Liverpool were on the losing side twice in this match (1-0 and 2-1) didn’t matter much to the Arne Slot’s team as they were so superior against Newcastle before. The recent record shows that prior to this match, Liverpool won 11 Premier League matches in which they have trailed against Newcastle, so when Salah scored Liverpool’s thrid goal in the 83rd minute and turned the game completely over, both his teammates and the crowd at St. James Park thought it was over. Except Fabian Schar. Newcastle defender had the presence of mind and concentration in the 90th minute to be near the right post when the ball came directly to him. Kelleher didn’t saw him behind his back and decided to let the ball go out of the field but the Swiss defender just put his foot in and equalized in a game which the Magpies never deserved to lose. After so many goals and chances, a draw is a fair result.

Newcastle are certainly not the team they were two season ago, when they went to the Champions League and are currently in the 11th place, but they have beaten both Tottenham and Arsenal and held Manchester City at home this season. And they took the lead twice tonight, but just couldn’t contain the red hot Mohamed Salah who assisted in one and scored two goals to give his team a chance to win. Newcastle have lost the previous six meetings and haven't beaten the Reds in 15 Premier League matches. Liverpool have won on five of their last six league visits St James’ Park and Mohamed Salah has been directly involved in 17 league goals against Newcastle, but Kelleher’s blunder denied all that, and shrink the points difference from 11 to 9 against City, who finally won tonight.

It’s hard to decide which half was more entertaining. It started rather slow, but that only lasted for the first 15 minutes and then goals and chances for both sides started to come up. Pope was the first one with a big save, after Mc Allister’s 20 meters attempt. Next minute, the Argentinian tried the same thing again, but this time post saved Newcastle. Five minutes later it was Murphy on the other side who hit the post for the hosts. Bruno Guimaraes then found himself all alone in the penalty area but his shot was weak and went straight to the keeper. And then Alexander Isak got the ball and just enough space to catapult the ball right into the net from 20 meters. The Magpies continued and Anthony Gordon was one on one with Kelleher but shot straight at him. Murphy missed the great chance again at the end of the first half, and unwritten football rule is that they had to be punished for so many misses.

And they were in the second half, when Curtis Jones scored a beauty in the 51st minute. The Magpies were on the ropes in the following minutes, as the Reds really tried to score the second one. After they failed, Anthony Gordon scored against his boyhood club and gave his current team another lead. And the Egyptian pharaoh stepped up and like a true leader scored a brace to turn the game over completely, just before he was stunned by Kelleher’s last minute mistake.

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 14

Tuesday

Ipswich - Crystal Palace 0-1 (0-0)

/Mateta 59/

Leicester - West Ham 3-1 (1-0)

/Vardy 2, Khannous 61,Daka 90 - Fullkrug 90+3/

Wednesday

Everton - Wolverhampton 4-0 (2-0)

/Young 10, Mangala 33, Dawson 49 og, 72 og/

Man.City - Nott.Forest 3-0 (2-0)

/Silva 8, De Bruyne 31, Doku 57/

Newcastle - Liverpool 3-3 (1-0)

/Isak 35, Gordon 62, Schar 90 - Jones 50, Salah 68, 83/

Southampton - Chelsea 1-5 (1-3)

/Aribo 11 - Disasi 7, Nkunku 17, Madueke 34, Palmer 76, Sancho 84/

Arsenal - Man Utd IN PROGRESS

Aston Villa - Brentford IN PROGRESS

Thursday

22:30: (2.45) Fulham (3.50) Brighton (3.00)

23:15: (2.70) Bournemouth (3.90) Tottenham (2.50)

***odds are subject to change***