Newcastle United 2 (Cabaye 23, Dummett 57) Liverpool 2 (Gerrard 42pen, Sturridge 72) Ten-man Newcastle United secured an impressive Barclays Premier League point with a 2-2 draw against Liverpool at St. James Park. The Magpies were forced to play almost 50 minutes with a numerical disadvantage following Mapou Yanga-Mbiwas straight red card, but twice they led on Tyneside before being hauled back by the Reds. Yohan Cabaye struck United in front midway through the opening period with a stunning, long-range strike but that was cancelled out just before the interval by Steven Gerrards penalty. The spot-kick came after Luis Suarez was dragged back by Yanga-Mbiwa inside the area, with the French defender receiving his marching orders. Substitute Paul Dummett put Newcastle back in the driving seat with a close-range finish, before Daniel Sturridge headed in the visitors second equaliser of the afternoon. It was an excellent performance and result, given the circumstances, and manager Alan Pardew will be delighted with his sides tireless application. The hosts made a bright start, more than matching their second-placed opponents in the opening exchanges, and Mathieu Debuchy fired an early warning shot with a low 25-yarder which Simon Mignolet had to smother. It took the Reds 12 minutes to carve out their first chance but Daniel Sturridge failed to get sufficient power behind a right-footed strike to trouble Tim Krul, having been played in by Victor Moses. They went closer in the 20th minute, however, as Davide Santon had to be alert to nod clear Luis Suarezs header off the line, as the Uruguayan met Gerrards right-wing corner. And they were made to pay for that spurned opportunity almost immediately as Cabaye struck United in front in spectacular style. Picking up the ball 35 yards from goal, the French international midfielder was given time and space to take a couple of steps forward before unleashing a low, bouncing shot which skipped up off the wet turf just before it flew past the despairing dive of Mignolet. Cabaye almost doubled his - and the Magpies - advantage ten minutes before the interval from similar range. However, his effort just failed to dip in time to find the top corner, with the whole of St. James Park willing it in, Newcastle were getting plenty of joy from distance and Mignolet had to be at his best to beat away at Moussa Sissoko drive which was on its way in at the goalkeepers near post before, at the other end, Liverpool drew level from the penalty spot. Suarez nipped in behind Yanga-Mbiwa to race onto a through ball and, having got into the penalty area, was tugged back by the centre-half. Referee Andre Marriner had no hesitation in making a decision and, after a lengthy wait while United protested, Yanga-Mbiwa was given a straight red card before Gerrard tucked home the resulting spot-kick. As expected, Liverpool came out all guns blazing in the second half, trying to assert their numerical advantage immediately, and Krul made a fine stop to deny Glen Johnsons low shot. But the hosts edged back in front in the 57th minute through Dummetts first goal in the famous black and white stripes. Cabaye floated a free-kick into the danger zone and it evaded everyone apart from the young, homegrown defender, who snuck in at the far post to guide home a left-footed finish. Liverpools response was to introduce forward Luis Alberto for centre-back Mamadou Sakho, and they levelled things up for the second time of the afternoon on 72 minutes. Suarez broke the offside trap to get down the left before dinking a ball into the six-yard box, which Sturridge duly headed home. That goal gave the Reds a visible boost and they went in search of a winner, with Suarezs rising half-volley clipping the top of the crossbar on its way over. Vuron Anita and Sammy Ameobi were summoned from the bench for the closing stages, in place of Cabaye and Ben Arfa, and their fresh legs helped the home side hold firm to record an impressive share of the spoils, with a superb Krul stop from Suarezs free-kick completing the job. Newcastle United (4-3-3): Tim Krul; Mathieu Debuchy, Mike Williamson, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Davide Santon; Yohan Cabaye (Vurnon Anita 78), Cheick Tiote (c), Moussa Sissoko (Paul Dummett 45); Yoan Gouffran, Hatem Ben Arfa (Sammy Ameobi 78), Loic Remy Substitutes: Rob Elliot, Gabriel Obertan, Papiss Cisse, Shola Ameobi Liverpool (3-4-1-2): Simon Mignolet; Kolo Toure, Martin Skrtel, Mamadou Sakho (Luis Alberto 63); Glen Johnson (Raheem Sterling 83), Jordan Henderson, Steven Gerrard (c), Aly Cissokho; Victor Moses; Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge Substitutes: Brad Jones, Jon Flanagan, Martin Kelly, Daniel Agger, Joe Allen Referee: Andre Marriner (West Midlands) Bookings: Newcastle - Gouffran (68), Debuchy (86); Liverpool - Gerrard (45), Toure (71), Sturridge (84) Sendings off: Newcastle - Yanga-Mbiwa (42); Liverpool - none Attendance: 51,703 (3,235 Liverpool).JM
Posted on: Sun, 20 Oct 2013 12:01:00 +0000
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