Newcastle stun Liverpool

Shearer celebrates his late equaliser for Newcastle

Liverpool 2-2 Newcastle

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Late goals from Gary Speed and Alan Shearer rescued an unlikely point for Newcastle at Anfield.

  Key moments

54 mins: Hamann scores for Liverpool

73 mins: Owen scores for Liverpool

81 mins: Speed scores for Newcastle

88 mins: Shearer scores for Newcastle

Liverpool dominated large swathes of the match and took a two-goal lead through Dietmar Hamann and Michael Owen, who scored his first of the season.

For 80 minutes Liverpool were a class above their ragged opponents and - on balance on chances - should have won by a comprehensive margin.

But a bold triple substitution from Newcastle boss Sir Bobby Robson changed the course of the match.

We always had belief. I always felt there was something in it for us

Sir Bobby Robson

The appearance of both Laurent Robert and Craig Bellamy for the first time this season, as well as Jermaine Jenas, added more spark to the Magpies game.

And, after Speed had pulled one back for the vistors, Shearer smashed home a superb header to secure a point.

Liverpool had quickly found their rhythm, carving out chances with a mixture of crisp passing and incisive movement.

Photo gallery: Liverpool v Newcastle

Owen - in a steely, determined mood - caused the most problems.

Aaron Hughes cleared off the line after Owen had evaded the goalkeeper after 13 minutes.

From the subsequent corner Owen had a penalty appeal rejected, but soon afterwards the diminutive striker was running at goal again - only to be thwarted by a last-ditch save from Shay Given.

More chances came Owen's way - he headed wide after a superb cross from Djimi Traore and, following a mistake by Titus Bramble, blazed over with only Given to beat.

Hamann scores Liverpool's opening goal

Newcastle's frustrations proved too much for Dyer and Gary Speed, who shortly after half-time exchanged heated remarks and had to be separated by referee Graham Poll.

And with the visitors in disarray Liverpool finally took the lead.

Nolberto Solano - trying to control a difficult clearance from his goalkeeper - fell over and Hamann charged into the penalty area before placing the ball across Given.

Newcastle nearly equalised shortly after their 63rd-minute triple substitution.

Robert - pitched into the fray without even a reserve game to his name this season - forced a finger-tip save from Jerzy Dudek minutes after his introduction.

We are disappointed with the result but not the performance

Gerard Houllier

The Polish goalkeeper tipped the ball against the post - and Shearer should have buried the rebound but scuffed his shot.

Shortly afterwards Liverpool extended their lead.

A clear foul by Nicolas Dabizas on Sami Hyypia led to Owen's penalty, which the striker converted with ice-cold composure.

But Newcastle refused to accept defeat.

Robert and Bellamy linked well to create Speed's goal - and set up a grandstand finish.

Emile Heskey spurned several good scoring chances before Shearer hauled his Newcastle onto level terms with a bullet header.

The Magpies skipper might have nicked all the points at the death for his team but Shearer was foiled by Dudek.

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Liverpool: Dudek, Xavier, Henchoz, Hyypia, Traore, Murphy, Hamann, Gerrard (Cheyrou 83), Smicer (Diouf 67), Owen, Heskey.
Subs Not Used: Kirkland, Riise, Carragher. Booked: Hamann.

Newcastle: Given, Hughes, Bramble, Dabizas, Bernard, Solano (Jenas 63), Dyer, Speed, Viana (Robert 63), LuaLua (Bellamy 63), Shearer.
Subs Not Used: Harper, O'Brien.

Booked: Bernard, Speed.

Attendance: 43,241

Referee: G Poll (Hertfordshire).