Liverpool and Newcastle share points in St. James’ thriller
By Martin Graham | 5th Dec 2024
Liverpool and Newcastle delivered an unforgettable spectacle at St. James’ Park, playing out a 3-3 draw in a game hailed as one of the season’s finest contests. The Premier League leaders twice came from behind before taking the lead, only to be denied victory by Fabian Schar’s dramatic 90th-minute equalizer.
Mohamed Salah was once again pivotal for Liverpool, scoring twice to put his team on the brink of a fifth consecutive league win. However, Newcastle’s late heroics ensured a share of the spoils after an intense and exhausting encounter.
Former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, described the game as a standout for the season. “We’ve seen incredible ebb and flow. Both teams will feel content with the point,” he noted.
Race for the title intensifies
Liverpool’s lead at the top of the table has been trimmed to seven points after midweek victories for Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester City, who occupy second, third, and fourth places, respectively. Brighton, in fifth, have the opportunity to close the gap further when they face Fulham on Thursday.
Despite their position, Liverpool manager Arne Slot urged caution, emphasizing that the real shape of the title race would emerge after 19 games. His measured perspective appears justified following the result, which disrupts the Reds’ recent momentum.
Historically, Liverpool were in a strong position heading into Wednesday’s fixtures, holding a nine-point advantage after 13 matches – an achievement previously matched only by Manchester United in 1993-94 and Chelsea in 2005-06, both of whom went on to secure the league title.
City’s resilience keeps title hopes alive
Manchester City, nine points behind Liverpool, remain firmly in contention, with their past comebacks offering hope. In the 2018-19 season, they overturned a 10-point December deficit to overtake Liverpool and win the title by stringing together 18 victories in their final 19 matches.
Speaking on Amazon Prime, Stuart Pearce, a former City player and manager, predicted further twists in the title race. “City are far from finished; the Premier League thrives on such unpredictability,” he said.
Other former players echoed similar sentiments. Theo Walcott stressed the importance of this period in shaping the season’s final standings, while Dimitar Berbatov highlighted the cautious approach taken by managers during the festive schedule. Reflecting on Sir Alex Ferguson’s advice, he recalled, “His focus was always on staying at the top after Christmas, knowing the title is won through discipline and consistency.”
Liverpool’s thrilling draw keeps the title race wide open, with December poised to bring even more drama.
Add Comment