Suarez rescues a point for Liverpool in Premier League

Posted on November 5, 2012 by SoccerPunter

Luis Suarez scored his 11th goal of the season that earned Liverpool a 1-1 draw with Newcastle in the English Premier League on Sunday.

Despite Newcastle leading at half-time, Liverpool fans do not need to press the panic button if they checked SoccerPunter H2H soccer statistics between Liverpool vs Newcastle. Because Liverpool have never lost to Newcastle for the past 17 years at Anfield. This was no exception.

The hosts’ point was the result of an impressive second half fightback led by the Uruguay forward. Much criticised for his alleged ‘diving’, Suarez cancelled out a first half opening goal from Yohan Cabaye.

And an indication of the problems he caused Newcastle came in the 83rd minute when Newcastle defender Fabricio Coloccini was shown a straight red card for a late foul on Suarez.

Cabaye struck in the dying minutes of the first half, a stunning finish that summed up the weaknesses at the back for Liverpool.

Demba Ba broke through the middle and fed Hatem Ben Arfa down the right.

The winger beat Jose Enrique far too easily as he made his way to the by-line and pulled over a far post cross which the unmarked Cabaye had time to control before lashing it into the roof of the goal past Brad Jones.

It was just reward for Newcastle’s patience and game plan which had seen the visitors weather a strong opening from Liverpool before growing increasingly threatening on the counter-attack.

Indeed, even in the two minutes that remained of the first half after their opener, Newcastle twice produced promising attacks.

First, Cabaye was gifted the ball by Steven Gerrard within seconds of his goal and sent a 20-yard shot just off target and then defender Steven Taylor almost capitalised on indecision from Joe Allen and Gerrard at a set-piece, hooking the loose ball just wide.

The game had started far more brightly for Liverpool, who celebrated Gerrard’s 600th appearance for the club by making a presentation to him on the field before kick-off.

Young winger Raheem Sterling inspired a couple of early forays and had a promising shot.

James Perch brought down Suarez on the edge of the Newcastle area after 19 minutes and presented the Liverpool forward with a free-kick which he planted just above the right-hand upright.

Newcastle started threatening on the break but still Liverpool looked in control when Nuri Sahin played in Suarez whose strong run ended in a shot which Tim Krul kept out with his legs.

In the second half Newcastle were hampered by the early loss of Ba, who limped off with an injury suffered in the opening period.

A much-improved Liverpool saw a Suarez shot from the edge of the area turned around the post by the diving Krul.

But there was nothing Krul could do about Suarez’s 67th-minute equaliser.

Enrique’s long ball was controlled superbly by Suarez, a step ahead of marker Coloccini and using the top of his chest, and the forward calmly rounded Krul before tapping into an unguarded net.

Suarez showed even greater skill and presence two minutes later when he again tortured Coloccini, easing past him to the line and pulling the ball back for substitute Jonjo Shelvey, who missed a glorious opening.

Newcastle countered — going close with a Ben Arfa free-kick before Papiss Cisse shot wide on the turn.

But, unlike the first half, Liverpool now appeared a more powerful attacking threat — or at least Suarez did.

The forward broke and slipped in Sterling, whose shot was well blocked by Taylor and Suarez, in a rare error, just missed connecting with an Enrique cross.

A frustrating second half was summed up for Coloccini seven minutes from time when he was shown a straight red card for a late and high jump at Suarez which saw his studs connect with the Liverpool player’s leg.

Suarez almost had the last word when an injury-time free-kick bounced high in the area and clipped the Newcastle crossbar.