Liverpool was held to a goalless draw by a very impressive Newcastle side at St James’ Park on Wednesday which ensures the Reds reopen a three-point lead at the summit of the Premier League table.
Mohamed Salah missed two clear-cut chances for Liverpool who couldn’t turn the champions’ advantage at the turn of the year into a more handsome one as the hosts had goalkeeper Karl Darlow to thank for his heroic saves on the night.
The Newcastle United defenders also stood their ground to keep Liverpool’s forwards at bay and Fabian Schar produced a goal-line clearance to deny Sadio Mane in the second period. It’s particularly not the best result but Liverpool will take the point. However, the Reds have failed to beat four of the bottom seven in their opening 16 games.
The year ends with Liverpool sitting atop the Premier League table, three points clear from Manchester United, who have a game in hand, with Leicester third and Everton in fourth, but also with a game in hand.
Watch the highlights of the match below
Managers reactions
Newcastle boss Steve Bruce said after the game: “We rode our luck at times and my goalkeeper’s made a few saves when you have to if you’re playing one of the best teams in Europe.
“But their goalkeeper made one or two saves too. The players stuck at it and got their reward. We needed to improve on the ball and we gave it away cheaply late on but that’s the tiredness and the fatigue setting in as they did one hell of a shift.”
On Darlow: “The jersey’s his at the moment. There’s no disputing that his form has been fantastic all season.”
Jurgen Klopp said: “We created some big chances, but we didn’t use them. But I liked the game. There are different draws and this is not one we are happy with result-wise but I’m happy with the performance. It’s disappointing but it is how it is.
“Newcastle went down and Schar had a few moments where he felt something. It broke the rhythm, but they defended with all they had. We played super football. Mo had a chance and first half we already had big chances, so we will just have to respect the result.
“I have not a lot of wrong things to say about the performance apart from the finishing. In moments, we have to be better and then we will win more football games. The position in the table at the moment is nice but it doesn’t mean anything right now as we’ve drawn the last two games. We’re in as good a mood as possible. If life gives you lemons, make lemonade out of it and that’s what we’re trying to do at the moment.”
Stats and facts from the match (Backed by Opta)
- Newcastle have gained their first point against Liverpool in the Premier League since October 2017 (1-1), ending a run of five consecutive defeats.
- Newcastle and Liverpool have played out a goalless draw for the first time in 74 matches in all competitions, last doing so in a top-flight game in February 1974.
- Liverpool have failed to win their final league game of a calendar year for the first time in seven years, winning each of their previous six since a 1-2 defeat to Chelsea in 2013.
- Newcastle have kept their first Premier League clean sheet in 14 games against a side starting the day top of the table – since April 2011 (0-0 V Man Utd).
Premier League table
| Position | Club | Pl | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Liverpool |
16 | +17 | 33 |
| 2 |  Man Utd |
15 | +8 | 30 |
| 3 |  Leicester |
16 | +9 | 29 |
| 4 |  Everton |
15 | +7 | 29 |
| 5 |  Aston Villa |
14 | +14 | 26 |
| 6 |  Chelsea |
16 | +13 | 26 |
| 7 |  Spurs |
15 | +11 | 26 |
| 8 |  Man City |
14 | +9 | 26 |
| 9 |  Southampton |
16 | +6 | 26 |
| 10 |  West Ham |
16 | +2 | 23 |
| 11 |  Leeds |
16 | 0 | 23 |
| 12 |  Wolves |
16 | -6 | 21 |
| 13 |  Arsenal |
16 | -3 | 20 |
| 14 |  Newcastle |
15 | -7 | 19 |
| 15 |  Crystal Palace |
16 | -9 | 19 |
| 16 |  Burnley |
15 | -11 | 16 |
| 17 |  Brighton |
16 | -7 | 13 |
| 18 |  Fulham |
15 | -10 | 11 |
| 19 |  West Brom |
16 | -24 | 8 |
| 20 |  Sheffield Utd |
16 | -19 | 2 |
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