‘Best game of season’ – Newcastle give Liverpool rivals hope

Premier League leaders Liverpool drew 3-3 with Newcastle in an enthralling match at St James’ Park which was described as one of the best games of the season.

The Reds twice trailed and then led thanks to a double from the ever-reliable Mohamed Salah, and looked set to extend their winning run in the league to five games.

But Fabian Schar’s 90th-minute equaliser earned Newcastle a deserved point at the end of an exhausting encounter.

“One of the best [games] I’ve seen this season,” said former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin on BBC Radio 5 Live at full-time.

“We have seen it ebb and flow. Both sides will be happy with the point in the end.”

But they will not be the only sides happy with the draw, with Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City – second, third and fourth respectively – all picking up wins on Wednesday. Fifth-placed Brighton, meanwhile, play Fulham on Thursday.

It means Liverpool’s lead is cut from nine points to seven at the start of a busy December that could see things change dramatically at the top of the table.

Historically, Liverpool were already in a title-winning position before a ball was kicked on Wednesday.

After beating Manchester City on Sunday they were nine points clear of second place after 13 league games.

Only two teams in Premier League history have had a lead of at least nine points after the same number of matches – Manchester United in 1993-94 and Chelsea in 2005-06 – and both went on to win the title.

Despite that, many were still urging caution in the battle at the top – including Reds boss Arne Slot.

The Dutchman said before the Newcastle game that 19 matches would be a better barometer of how the title battle is shaping up, an opinion that will have only been galvanised after the 3-3 draw.

City’s loss to Liverpool left them 11 points adrift of the Reds but that has been cut to nine, and history suggests they are more than capable of overturning such a deficit.

In 2018-19, they trailed Liverpool by 10 points after a poor run of form in December but then won 18 of their 19 matches from the 30th of that month to go on and clinch the title.

“I think we know Man City are not out of the title race – they are going to have a say,” former Manchester City player and manager Stuart Pearce said on Amazon Prime.

“There are going to be a lot of twists and turns in the title race. That’s what makes the Premier League so good.”

Former Arsenal forward Theo Walcott added: “This is where you get a feel for where you will end up at the end of the season. It is a period where you can make up a lot of points.”

Former Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov, a Premier League champion with the Red Devils in 2008–09 and 2010–11, said his former manager Sir Alex Ferguson would never entertain title talk at this stage of the season.

“He would say if we stay first after the Christmas period we win the league,” he told Amazon Prime.

“He was always very strict around this time of the year – ‘stay at home and don’t go out’. It was worth it – it is about winning the title at the end of the day.”

Liverpool’s next match is the unpredictability of a Merseyside derby, while they also face Tottenham on 22 December – with both those games away.

Chelsea also have a trip to London rivals Spurs, but after that the highest-placed team they face is Brentford, currently ninth.

All Arsenal’s opponents are currently in the bottom half of the table, whereas Manchester City have a derby against Manchester United on 15 December and must also go to Aston Villa.

Brighton, who play on Thursday night and could go fourth with a win, only have two home games in the rest of December – against Crystal Palace and Brentford.

Top five’s upcoming fixtures:

Liverpool: 7 Dec Everton (a); 14 Dec Fulham (h); 22 Dec Tottenham (a); 26 Dec Leicester (h); 29 Dec West Ham (a)

Chelsea: 8 Dec Tottenham (a); 15 Dec Brentford (a); 22 Dec Everton (a) 26 Dec Fulham (h) 30 Dec Ipswich (a)

Arsenal: 8 Dec Fulham (a); 14 Dec Everton (h); 21 Dec Crystal Palace (a); 27 Dec Ipswich (h)

Man City: 7 Dec Crystal Palace (a); 15 Dec Manchester United (h); 21 Dec Aston Villa (a); 26 Dec Everton (h); 29 Dec Leicester (a)

Brighton: 5 Dec Fulham (a) 8 Dec Leicester (a); 15 Dec Crystal Palace (h); 21 Dec West Ham (a); 27 Dec Brentford (h); 30 Dec Aston Villa (a)

Liverpool boss Arne Slot after the Newcastle draw: “A great game to watch. This is what we do lately but with the exception of us not winning this game. There were moments in the game where I was happy about it but then at 3-2 up [to draw 3-3] it is a disappointment.”

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, on Liverpool dropping points on Wednesday: “I didn’t know as I was so happy celebrating in the dressing room [after Arsenal beat Manchester United].

“We got that news, but it is difficult to win this league. It is still very early.”

Gunners midfielder Declan Rice: “When you have a blip in the league you get written off. People get carried away. You just need to be around it in February time. Liverpool have dropped points – they’re seven away so we will see what happens.”

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola on if Wednesday’s win against Nottingham Forest will prove a turning point: “I don’t know. We have to prove it again. It’s just one game but it was important to break this run.”

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca on his side’s form: “We are focused on that [performing] since the start. I think that the results, for sure, helps a lot – calms down a little bit of noise around the club.

“It’s a good feeling, especially to see the fans happy because after the last two years, you know better than me, many things happened. The feeling from them now is good and it is a good feeling also for us.”