Reds hold pacemakers to a draw

A dreadful error by keeper Pavel Srnicek cost 10-man Newcastle their 100 per cent Premiership record.

Robert Lee looked to have made it seven wins out of seven with a sensational strike five minutes into the second period after the Anfield side had dominated the opening 45 minutes. But Srnicek then let Ian Rush's speculative 30-yarder slip through his hands and over the line.

And things got even worse for the St James' Park side when Belgian international Philippe Albert, cautioned early on, was dismissed eight minutes from time for his second bookable offence.

Anything less than a point would have been unfair on Liverpool, who dispelled pre-game expectations that Phil Babb would be asked to do a man-marking job on Peter Beardsley when the 3.6 million pound man lined up as one of three centre-backs.

With Rob Jones and Stig Bjornebye pushing up, Liverpool made a composed start. Neil Ruddock headed at Srnicek and then Steve McManaman, found in space by Rush, clipped an angled effort which flicked off the bar.

Newcastle were struggling to make any inroads against the Anfield defence and their cause was not helped when Barry Venison was forced off after aggravating his hamstring problem, to be replaced by Steve Howey.

In the 29th minute, the home side finally put together the sort of move that had earned them eight wins in a row.

Good interplay ended with Andy Cole feeding Scott Sellars, whose floated effort left James for dead only to hit the top of the bar.

But Liverpool, ever dangerous on the break, then went close twice more, with McManaman the man on the end of both chances. Freed by John Barnes, he should have done better tan allow Srnicek to parry but he was closer in the 33rd minute. Rush's dummy opened the way for McManaman to advance to the edge of the box and when his shot slipped through Srnicek's aims it seemed on course to loop into the net before the post intervened.

They might have been fortunate to still be on terms, but Newcastle began the second period looking more like their familiar selves.

Jones and Scales made vital interceptions to halt Cole's progress but the opener came from Lee, the Magpies' most prolific source this season, in the 50th minute.

Beardsley and Ruel Fox were involved before Lee took up the ball and entered the box. There seemed little danger but Lee spotted a gap at James' top left corner and hammered the ball into it to claim his ninth of the season.

Liverpool refused to give up, Scales blocked by a desperate Darren Peacock and Srnicek denying Rush with his fingertips.

But 20 minutes from time, the Czech was a forlorn figure. Rush, found by Barnes, tried a hopeful shot from 30 yards and although Srnicek had the ball covered, he again let it through his arms.
Once more it hit the woodwork, but this time the underside of the bar and the ball dropped softly over the line.

With time running out, Albert, booked for an early foul on McManaman, kicked out at Ruddock, and after treatment he rose to find referee Phil Don brandishing yellow and red cards.

Even when there was time for both sides to come near to taking the points, Robbie Fowler shooting at Srnicek and James just holding onto Lee's effort.

Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan said his side's draw with Liverpool had been "a great advert for the Premiership".

Keegan admitted a sense of disappointment at the loss of his side's 100 per cent start to the season after an error by keeper Pavel Srnicek allowed Ian Rush to cancel out Robert Lee's opener.

But the St James' Park manager was clearly not distraught. "It was a very good game and if we're going to lose our record I'd have wanted it to be against a team that plays football the right way," said Keegan.

"Liverpool have been rejuvenated under Roy Evans and I thought a draw was a fair result. They played very well but we had chances as well."

Keegan would not be drawn on the 82nd minute dismissal of Belgian international Philippe Albert for a second bookable foul. "It's not a matter of what I think," he added.

But he was sympathetic towards Srnicek. "If a keeper makes a mistake everyone remembers it, even if he's had a good game before that," said Keegan.

"It had shades of the goal David Seaman let in against Leeds a few weeks ago but it's a difficult position."

Liverpool boss Roy Evans was rightly pleased with his team's determined display. "When we lost the goal I have to admit I was feeling it was a little bit of deja vu after Manchester United," he said.

"But the biggest credit I can pay to the players was that they rolled their sleeves up and dug deeper. We certainly deserved something and I'm not too sure we didn't deserve all three points - although maybe I'm biased."

Copyright - British Soccer Week