Newcastle United headed to Anfield this afternoon knowing that they had not won there since 1994.
It looked as though they were going to end that wait today thanks to a first-half strike from Yohan Cabaye.
However, Luis Suarez came to Liverpool's rescue after the restart to salvage a point for the hosts, before Newcastle had Fabricio Coloccini sent off in the closing stages.
Read how the match unfolded with our minute-by-minute updates below.
Afternoon all. Looking forward to this clash because it's thrown up some absolute classic matches down the years. More of the same today would be the perfect way to round of the Premier League's Sunday action.
Right, before we get into all the pre-match talk and statistics, let's bring you the team news...
Liverpool X1: Jones; Wisdom, Enrique, Agger, Skrtel; Sahin, Gerrard, Allen; Suso, Sterling; Suarez
So as expected Steven Gerrard will make his 600th appearance for Liverpool. That is quite an achievement from the skipper. Elsewhere Brad Jones continues in goal ahead of Pepe Reina, who has been suffering with an injury.
Newcastle X1: Krul; Anita, Coloccini, S. Taylor, Santon; Ben Arfa, Perch, Cabaye, Gutierrez; Cisse, Ba
Well Alan Pardew is certainly not holding back! He's partnered Papiss Cisse up front with the free-scoring Demba Ba. Also, summer signing from Ajax Vurnon Anita will play at right-back.
Okay, I've held it back long enough! Who remembers this? Surely everyone does.
What a fantastic game that was. Has there been a better one since the Premier League was formed in 1992? I can't think of one. It actually ended up costing Newcastle United the chance of winning the title as Liverpool helped out their rivals Manchester United.
So if that was the best match that the Premier League has ever seen, what's the second best? How about this...
That's right, the very next season these two played out exactly the same scoreline! It would be great to see something similar today, although I'm not sure my typing hands will agree!
Recent history would have you believe that a Newcastle victory is very unlikely today. The Magpies have not left Anfield with all three points since April 1994. They have also only won 12 of their 81 visits to the red half of Merseyside.
Having said that, as mentioned above Liverpool have not pulled up many trees in front of their own supporters this season. Opposition do not appear to currently fear going to Anfield. Who would have thought that was going to be the case during the 1970s and 1980s?
Let's just leave this game briefly to update you on the earlier Premier League encounter. It ended one apiece between Queens Park Rangers and Reading at Loftus Road. Kaspars Gorkss put visiting Reading in front at the break, only for Djibril Cisse to cancel out that goal after the restart. You can read our report of the match here.
Turning back to this fixture, let's concentrate a little on Gerrard. 600 appearances in a career is good for any player but to do it for one club is incredible. With the way that players trade clubs so frequently these days, I can't see it being repeated too often.
And here is what his manager Brendan Rodgers has had to say about his captain: "You saw him the other night when we were playing Swansea and the game was flat in the first half. He dons his Superman cape, comes on and changes the whole dynamic of the game. That is what great players do and this is one of the modern greats of the game."
Meanwhile, Alan Pardew has called upon his players to keep their composure: "It's a fixture that you can get wrapped up in a little bit. It's such an emotional start, the way they build that game up, and you can get lost in that period. Sometimes teams are beat before they get there so hopefully we will get over that this time."
Away from Gerrard, Rodgers also believes that his side have shown some better form in recent weeks: "Our consistency in league has been better in last four or five games. It's about keeping that consistency and performance level going."
"Congrats to stevie g on 600 games. Great achievement whatever team u support," so says Man United striker Wayne Rooney on Twitter. Beat you to it earlier in this commentary Wayne!
Right, the players are in the tunnel. Now waiting for the famous Liverpool anthem to strike up.
Here come the players to a loud reception from the Anfield faithful. Not long until we get started now...
Before the match gets underway Steven Gerrard receives a brilliant reception from the crowd as he is handed an award by former Liverpool midfielder Gary McAllister.
With seconds to go, here's a worrying stat for Newcastle fans from Opta Joe on Twitter: "The last Newcastle player to score a league goal at Anfield (excl. own goals) was Patrick Kluivert in 2004." That is a long time ago!
Newcastle, who are kicking towards the Kop, will get us off and running.
It's been all Liverpool so far. They've pushed the Newcastle defence right back into their own penalty area. From a Newcastle point of view, it's important that they weather the storm.
Another Liverpool match and another penalty appeal from Luis Suarez! Okay, to be fair to the striker the shouts came more from the crowd than him. Nevertheless, Fabricio Coloccini clearly took the ball.
It's still Liverpool that are the dominant force. The attacking trio of Raheem Sterling, Suarez and Suso are looking extremely lively at the moment. Still, they are yet to test Tim Krul in the away goal.
CHANCE! He may only be 17 by Sterling does not lack any confidence. Here he breaks free 25 yards from goal and opts to power a shot towards the target. Unfortunately for Liverpool, the ball flies just wide.
Now Newcastle are beginning to feel their way into the contest. They've started to string a few passes together and are spending some time in the Liverpool half.
Half an opportunity is spurned by the away side as Demba Ba fails to make a firm contact with David Santon's cross from the left. In fairness to Ba the defender's lofted pass was a little too high for him. Still, it's better from the Magpies.
CHANCE! Unlucky for Suarez and Liverpool as the Uruguayan curls a free kick from 25 yards out onto the roof of the net.
SAVE! Suarez again goes close for Liverpool. This time he races into the box, only to see his drilled effort saved by the feet of Krul.
We've got an injury delay as the moment as Newcastle's James Perch is down with an ankle problem.
Perch is now back on but he doesn't look at all comfortable. Danny Simpson has been sent out to warm-up by Alan Pardew as a result.
SUBSTITUTION: And that is game over for Perch. Simpson takes his place, which means Anita is likely to move into a more familiar role in the midfield.
CHANCE! It's Suarez again that goes close as he rises above Steven Taylor, but his header from Gerrard's lobbed pass goes over the bar.
It's now Liverpool's turn to have an injury concern. Centre-back Martin Skrtel appears to have a problem with his eye. Not sure if he has lost a contact lense or took a hand to the face. Either way, he's back on the pitch and playing.
It's all gone a little bit scrappy at Anfield. Both sides are getting so far, then appear to be running out of ideas a little. Liverpool still look the more likely to score, but they haven't tested Krul in a while.
The lively Suso has just lit up a rather dull five minutes or so with a run inside the Newcastle box that was ended when his shot was deflected over.
GOAL! Liverpool 0-1 Newcastle (Cabaye)
What a strike from Yohan Cabaye! Newcastle have done virtually nothing all match and yet they are in front. Hatem Ben Arfa was the creator, beating Jose Enrique and getting to the byline. His cross looks to have been overhit but Cabaye is lurking. The Frenchman takes one touch before lashing the ball past Jones in goal before he can react.
Two minutes of stoppage time to be played...
HALF-TIME: Liverpool 0-1 Newcastle
Rather than me summing up the half, here is former Liverpool and Newcastle striker Michael Owen on Twitter: "What a finish that was. Can't believe Liverpool go in losing at HT. This is the best I've seen them play for a while." Cheers for doing my job for me Michael!
Here's something else not produced by me! Our half-time report from Anfield. Enjoy.
So, what can Liverpool to do get back into this then? Well, be more clinical! It's something that they have lacked all season. Suarez has been dangerous today, but you can understand the argument that he doesn't score enough goals for a striker. The fact that they don't have enough centre-forward in the squad doesn't help.
Liverpool, now attacking the famous Kop End, will get the second half underway. Can they turn it around? The next 45 minutes will tell us.
The Reds have started the second half in a similar way that they begun the match - brightly. There's been no shots at Krul's goal yet, but the crowd are now up for it.
SUBSTITUTION: Ba's afternoon is over - he has a shin problem that he carried into the game. The younger Ameobi brother, Sammy, takes his place.
Newcastle have now settled into the match again. They're beginning to keep the ball a little better, which in turn is frustrating the home side.
SAVE! Suarez and Krul are having their own private battle today. Again the goalkeeper comes out on top, tipping the striker's shot from 20 yards out wide of the target.
CHANCE! Surprisingly, it's not Suarez who has the shot. The Uruguayan is still involved though, threading the ball through to Nuri Sahin, who drags his shot off target from a narrow angle.
We've got a bit of a training match on our hands at the moment. Liverpool are piling forward, while Newcastle sit tight and defend everything that is thrown at them. Not sure how much longer they can deal with this pressure though.
SUBSTITUTION: A switch for Liverpool as Suso comes off and Sir Alex Ferguson's best mate Jonjo Shelvey enters the action.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-1 Newcastle (Suarez)
At last Suarez gets the better of Krul, and in some style to! He collects a long ball on his chest, before rounding the Dutch keeper and slotting the ball into the net. A much needed goal for the home side.
SUBSTITUTION: Pardew reacts to the equalisier by making his final Newcastle change. Goalscorer Cabaye is replaced by youngster Shane Ferguson.
CHANCE! Liverpool really should be 2-1 up. Suarez does brilliantly to wrestle his way past Coloccini. He then gets his head up and cuts the ball back for Shelvey, who has what looks to be a simple tap-in. He gets his feet all wrong though and Krul collects from close range.
SUBSTITUTION: Sahin, who has been quiet this afternoon, takes his leave and is replaced by Stewart Downing.
CHANCE! Fantastic defending from Steven Taylor sees him block Sterling's goalbound shot. Liverpool are now well in control of this match.
CHANCE! Now it's Newcastle's turn to venture forward. Hatem Ben Arfa gets free down the right and when he cuts inside, his low shot is held by Jones in the Liverpool. We've got a really good game on our hands now.
SAVE! Another reminder that Newcastle are not done yet. This time it's Sammy Ameobi who forces Jones into action from 25 yards. As it was, the Aussie keeper pulls off a good stop.
RED CARD! Coloccini (Newcastle)
What an earth has Coloccini done? He goes in late on Suarez with his studs raised. It was a needless thing to do and now he has left his side up against in the remaining minutes.
It appears that Michael Owen does agree with the red card: "Red? Did he touch him? Looked a poor decision to me," he said on Twitter. Have to say, to me, it looked a certain red.
SAVE! A cross from Gerrard finds Shelvey to the left of the box. The midfielder produces an instant shot, but it's easy for Krul to collect.
SAVE! The same combination for Liverpool and the same outcome again as Shelvey's downward header is easily saved by Krul. That's three chances that the England youngster has wasted.
Four minutes of stoppage time to be played...
There are two minutes left for Liverpool to find a winner. They are battering on the Newcastle door, but it's standing firm at the moment.
BOOKING! Santon gets his name taken for pulling Sterling's shirt. It was an easy decision for the referee.
OFF THE BAR! A deflected free kick from Suarez bounces awkwardly in front of Krul and the ball skins the crossbar before going over. Big escape.
FULL TIME: Liverpool 1-1 Newcastle
What is it with Liverpool and winning at Anfield? They just can't do it at the moment! Enough chances were created, but ultimately they share the spoils with Newcastle.
That's about all we've got time for from Anfield. Thanks for joining us this afternoon. Be sure to check out our analysis of this match, which will be coming your way shortly.
Written by
Liam Apicella
Liam Apicella
