Premier League Christmas advent calendar – December 20: Newcastle’s Title Hopes Hit the Buffers Against Liverpool
Countdown to Xmas by reliving some of the Premier League's most memorable moments with SunSport's festive calendar
IT'S the year when the top flight is reduced to just 20 teams and when Newcastle United, just three seasons after nearly dropping down to the old Third Division, are 12 points clear at the top of the table at the end of January.
It’s all down to manager Kevin Keegan’s coaching ethos. Bold, brave and seemingly obsessed with attacking, they have been nicknamed ‘The Entertainers’ - and it’s a tag they certainly live up to.
But they’re pegged back by a resilient Manchester United and with seven games to play the Magpies are, incredibly, now three points behind the Red Devils.
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It’s a crunch game at Anfield as Liverpool host Newcastle in April. Liverpool are ahead within two minutes through Robbie Fowler but it’s cancelled out by Faustino Asprilla within 10 minutes.
French international David Ginola gives the visitors the lead four minutes later but Liverpool equalise just after the break through Robbie Fowler’s second. Two minutes later, though, and Newcastle are ahead again as Asprilla breaks free to score.
The game continues to ebb and flow and when Liverpool grab a late equaliser through Stan Collymore, it looks like both sides might settle for a point.
Not a bit of it.
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As the game heads into stoppage time, Liverpool mount one final assualt and as John Barnes feeds the ball out to Stan Collymore, the watching world holds its breath.
“Collymore closing in,” says Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler, “LIVERPOOL LEAD IN STOPPAGE TIME!”
Crestfallen, Kevin Keegan slumps against the advertising board in front of his dugout, sensing that the title challenge was over.
He was right.
Newcastle would spend 212 days at the top of the table that season, the most in Premier League history for a side not to be crowned champions.
But what he have done anything differently? Not a chance.
"I remember saying: 'I should be despondent but I am not.' For me, then and now, the question is, 'What is success?' It isn't only about winning, but playing in a certain way."