BBC: Suarez earns Reds draw

Luis Suarez earned a point for a dominant Liverpool against 10-man Newcastle at Anfield.

Yohan Cabaye showed the finishing prowess the Reds lacked in the opening half when he powered in an acute angled strike just before the break.

Suarez equalised when he controlled a long Jose Enrique ball, rounded keeper Tim Krul and slotted home.

Fabricio Coloccini was sent off for a cynical challenge on Suarez late on but the Magpies held on for a point.

While Liverpool have now gone five league games without a defeat - their longest unbeaten run in 2012 - it was a game in which the familiar story of their season unfolded as they failed to make the most of their possession and chances.

The visitors displayed defensive fortitude to frustrate their hosts, but Suarez's goal denied the Magpies a first win at Anfield in 18 league games since April 1994.

Skipper Steven Gerrard was playing his 600th game for the Reds - moving him to 10th in the club's list of all-time appearance makers - and the midfielder has been the inspiration for his team on a regular basis since his debut in November 1998.

But it was Suarez who was Newcastle's chief tormentor in a game the Reds began with obvious urgency.

The home side did not take long to get into their passing stride and they quickly started to pile on the pressure, with winger Raheem Sterling's pace and trickery a particular concern for the visitors.

Suarez is never far from the action and he was soon left indignant when referee Anthony Taylor ignored his penalty appeal after he was caught by Coloccini.

Newcastle had to show the steel that has been a hallmark of their game this season to keep the Reds at arm's length.

The closest Liverpool came to a goal in the first half was when Suarez had an angled shot across goal saved by the foot of keeper Tim Krul and a Suso strike was deflected over.

But the visitors gradually came into the game and then stunned the home side by taking the lead.

Hatem Ben Arfa jinked to the byline and crossed to the far post where Cabaye controlled before rifling home a shot.

It was a goal that highlighted exactly the type of ruthlessness in front of goal Liverpool sorely miss.

Suarez had a low curling shot saved and Nuri Sahin scuffed an effort narrowly wide as it seemed Liverpool's problems in front of goal would continue.

But, after Jonas Gutierrez gave the ball away, Suarez brilliantly took down a long Enrique pass before touching the ball around Krul and slotting into an empty net.

The Uruguayan then set up Jonjo Shelvey and Sterling for chances to win the game but both wasted their opportunities.

Shelvey failed to get the required purchase on a pull-back, while Sterling was denied when his shot was deflected high off the sliding Steven Taylor.

As Liverpool pressed for a late goal, Newcastle almost exposed the home side at the back with Papiss Cisse volleying wide and Ben Arfa having a shot saved by keeper Brad Jones.

Coloccini's dismissal put the visitors under some late pressure and a deflected Suarez free-kick looped over before both teams had to settle for a draw.

Source: BBC Sport