Victor Moses’ Liverpool failed to make numerical advantage count when they were held to a 2-2 draw by 10-man Newcastle United.
Daniel Sturridge struck a 72nd-minute equaliser to earn Brendan Rodgers’ side a point despite playing more than an entire half with an extra man.
Yohan Cabaye had given the Newcastle a deserved lead midway through the first half with a fantastic, swerving 25-yard effort.
But the game was transformed three minutes before half-time when Newcastle centre-back, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, was red-carded for hauling back Luis Suarez inside the penalty area.
Steven Gerrard converted the spot-kick to register the 100th Premier League goal of his career, only for Magpies substitute Paul Dummett, to restore the home lead after the interval.
Although Liverpool finished the stronger after Sturridge’s leveller, the draw was a fair result with the Anfield outfit having underwhelmed for large periods of an entertaining match.
This was a missed opportunity for Rodgers’ men, who temporarily moved a point clear at the top of the Premier League table.
Rodgers’s side were level three minutes before the interval. Yanga-Mbiwa allowed Suarez to get goalside to a Victor Moses through ball and dragged down the Liverpool man inside the area for a clear penalty and, as last man, an automatic red card.
Playing against 10 men should have been the sign for Liverpool to kick on, and Johnson forced Krul into a save shortly after the interval.
And Liverpool fell behind again on 57 minutes. Kolo Toure could only glance on a deep Cabaye free-kick delivery, and with Cissokho ball-watching, substitute Paul Dummett was able to steal in at the far post to score.
On 72 minutes, Liverpool drew level for a second time. Fine play from Moses released Suarez down the inside left channel, and the Uruguayan clipped the ball over Krul across goal for Sturridge to direct home with a flying header.
Nigeria’s Shola Ameobi was on for the entire 90 minutes while his young brother, Sammy, replaced Ben Arfa in the second half of the encounter.
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