Liverpool 2 Newcastle United 2: Astonishing comeback sees Benitez's side claim point

Goals after the break from Colback and Papiss Cisse cancelled out first-half strikes from Daniel Sturridge and Adam Lallana.

And the 2-2 draw ended a run of nine successive Premier League defeats, 10 in all competitions, away from home.

Rafa Benitez's unchanged side had been dreadful in the first 45

But the players were given another standing ovation by the club's 2,600-strong travelling support after the final whistle.

And the result saw second-bottom Newcastle move level on points with 18th-placed Sunderland in the league, though Sam Allardyce's side – who play Arsenal at home tomorrow – have two games in hand.

Newcastle had a disastrous start at Anfield, Benitez's former home.

Alberto Moreno's ball forward was chested down by Sturridge, who was able to turn and shoot past Karl Darlow.

And it looked like the club's hopes of a result had gone in 76 seconds.

United were awful. They lacked ideas, imagination and intelligence, and Liverpool were first to everything.

Things got worse in the 30th minute. Moreno's ball from the left found Lallana, who made it 2-0.

Benitez made just one substitution at the break – Georginio Wijnaldum replaced the ineffective Ayoze Perez – but he must have considered more radical changes.

Cisse gave United a lifeline three minutes into the second half.

The striker headed a Vurnon Anita cross past Simon Mignolet at the far post at the Kop end of the stadium.

Goalkeeper Karl Darlow kept Newcastle in it at the other end with a fine save from Joe Allen. Robert Firmino put a follow-up effort in the net, but he was offside.

And United's second breakthrough came in the 66th minute.

A weak clearance from Dejan Lovren found the oncoming Colback, whose deflected shot beat Mignolet.

The goal sparked wild celebrations in the away end.

Both sides pressed for a winner, but Benitez and Jurgen Klopp, his Liverpool counterpart, had to settle for a point apiece.

LIVERPOOL: Mignolet, Randall (Coutinho, 71), Toure, Lovren, Moreno, Stewart, Allen (Lucas, 71), Milner, Lallana (Ojo, 83), Firmino, Sturridge. Subs not used: Ward, Skrtel, Smith, Ibe.

NEWCASTLE UNITED: Darlow; Anita, Mbemba, Lascelles, Dummett; Tiote (Shelvey, 83), Colback; Townsend, Sissoko, Perez (Wijnaldum, 46); Cisse (Mitrovic, 75). Subs not used: Woodman, Mbabu, Aarons, de Jong.

Goals: Sturridge 2, Lallana 30, Cisse 48, Colback 66

Booking: Tiote 23

Referee: Andre Marriner (West Midlands)

Attendance: 43,837

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