Newcastle United versus Liverpool is invariably an enthralling spectacle. The fixture has produced 52 goals across the last 16 encounters, but its history goes back much further than that. Two 4-3s in the mid-90s has ensured this match always draws a big crowd. It rarely disappoints.
Here are five classic Premier League matches between the two sides:
1) Newcastle 3-0 Liverpool (November 1993)
Kevin Keegan’s extraordinary spell as manager of Newcastle included many epic encounters with his old club Liverpool, and the very first was certainly among the best. The Magpies’ emphatic 3-0 victory over Graeme Souness’s side was a defining moment in the season for both managers; it confirmed Newcastle’s arrival as one of the most exciting clubs in the country and marked the beginning of the end for the Liverpool boss.
A hat-trick inside half an hour for Andy Cole, bringing his tally to 15 goals in 15 league games, lit up St. James’ Park to hand Keegan his first major scalp of the season. Liverpool, meanwhile, who were unbeaten in five and appeared to have recovered from a poor start to the campaign, were plunged back into trouble by this result – and never truly recovered from the shock.
Souness only tasted victory on three more occasions as Liverpool manager before resigning in January 1994, while Newcastle went on to finish third in their inaugural year of Premier League football.
2) Liverpool 4-3 Newcastle (April 1996)
Generally considered the greatest match in Premier League history, Liverpool’s 4-3 win at Anfield towards the end of the 1995/96 campaign is the main reason why any fixture between these two sides receives so much media coverage. It was a truly special occasion for Liverpool fans and neutrals, but a sad day for Newcastle fans as their title dreams began to unravel.
With six matches remaining The Magpies were three points behind leaders Manchester United with two games in hand, meaning victory at Anfield would make them favourites – and categorically end a sequence of poor results (four points from five games) that threatened to derail their season.
Robbie Fowler opened the scoring before the goals started flying in for both sides, with Newcastle taking the lead for the second time in the match on the hour mark to make it 3-2. A ridiculously open contest could have seen seven or eight more goals in the final 30 minutes, but instead there was only two, both scored by Stan Collymore. The former Aston Villa forward grabbed the winner in stoppage time.
3) Liverpool 4-3 Newcastle (March 1997)
Kevin Keegan’s resignation in January of 1997 saw Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish take charge of Newcastle, adding an extra level of tension to a match already drawing excitement given its proximity to the Collymore-inspired 4-3. Newcastle’s results had picked up under the Scotsman but a 1-0 defeat at Southampton shifted momentum back the other way before their trip to Anfield.
The hosts stormed into a 3-0 lead at half-time thanks to goals from Steve McManaman, Patrik Berger, and Robbie Fowler – and then something incredible happened. Keith Gillespie scored what looked like a consolation goal in the 71st minute, before two goals in the final few minutes of the match from Faustino Asprilla and Warren Barton sent the away fans into raptures.
Another injury-time winner - this time via the head of Fowler - consigned Newcastle to a familiarly damaging defeat. Dalglish’s side drew three of their next four league matches, all but ending their title hopes once again.
4) Liverpool 2-2 Newcastle (September 2001)
As Liverpool led 2-0 at Anfield in the 80th minute in September 2001, Newcastle fans could be forgiven for feeling like last season’s fourth-place finish was a one off. Bobby Robson’s side had already lost 1-0 to Manchester City the previous weekend meaning, with Jonathan Woodgate and Hugo Viana the only notable additions over the summer, successive seasons of Champions League qualification seemed like a distant dream.
Craig Bellamy’s pass handed Gary Speed an open goal to pull one back in the 81st minute, before Alan Shearer headed home a corner in the final few moments to bring the visitors level. The Magpies went on to finish third, one place higher than the year before.
5) Newcastle 3-1 Liverpool (December 2011)
Things were going very badly for Roy Hodgson when his Liverpool team went to St. James’ Park just after Christmas 2011, and they were about to get a whole lot worse. Chris Hughton’s side were struggling in their first season back in the top flight and hadn’t won in five matches, making victory all the sweeter.
Once again it was late goals that settled the contest. Dirk Kuyt had fired home an equaliser after Kevin Nolan’s striker in the first half, but a rare Joey Barton goal ten minutes from time, followed by a 25-yard bullet from emerging youngster Andy Carroll, gave Newcastle a vital shot in the arm. Hodgson, meanwhile, was sacked eight days later.
