Managers can come and go, but something about Liverpool and Newcastle remains: an addiction to late drama, a capacity to entertain and enthrall. Kevin Keegan knew it more than most: perhaps the greatest Premier League game of all ended 4-3, maybe costing his Newcastle team the title three decades ago. As two of his former clubs paid tribute to him, as Matthias Jaissle was on the brink of a debut win which, it seems safe to assume, Keegan would have loved, came the newest late twist in this remarkable rivalry.
After a 100th-minute winner at St James’ Park last season, Liverpool got a 99th-minute equaliser this. Andoni Iraola’s reign did not begin with defeat. “It’s a strange feeling,” said the Spaniard. “Before the game we would haven’t signed for this result, but the way we scored the goal in the end, it tastes better.” Not for Newcastle. “It is really hard to digest,” said Jaissle, who, like the departed Eddie Howe before him, got a taste of the cruelty this fixture can provide. Although, perhaps, it could have been still crueller for Newcastle.
