Eddie Howe said:

"How do I feel? Positive, that was much better from us. 

"You know with the quality Liverpool have off the bench we could have an issue and that's what happened. But our mental quality came to the fore and we got the equaliser. 

"We had chances to make it 2-0, we scored three goals and looked dynamic and energetic.

Arne Slot - whose previous visit to SJP was in the NAC Breda side beaten 5-0 in the UEFA Cup back in September 2003 - said: 

"I have mixed feelings, we were outstanding in the second half but we were not good enough in the first half. Maybe 3-3 is what the game deserved.

"They were really aggressive and forced us into mistakes but we were so much better in the second half. I knew the game could be changed around, we were much better with the ball.

"After the week we had, we could change the game which is a very positive thing to take. Every time we need Mo Salah, he scores a goal. We are hoping and expecting he can continue this for a long time. He was outstanding in the second half, he did many special things for us.’

"There were moments in the game where you thought if we could come away from here with a draw it would be a good result, but those moments were mainly in the first half. 

"In the second half, especially after we scored for 1-1, I thought we were really impressive. We created so many opportunities, good chances. Then, one minute before the end being 3-2 up, it feels like a disappointment to drop two points.

"In the first half we had a lot of problems with their intensity, aggressive playing style without the ball – aggressive in a good way. We tried to cope with it, but every time we touched them we got a yellow and that doesn't really help for us to be intense then as well. 

"But we give credit to them, they were more intense than us. They forced us into too many mistakes. It wasn't that difficult for us to be better in the second half with the ball and that's what we were. 

"Maybe it was difficult for them to keep the intensity of the first 45 minutes going and as a result of that, or of all of these things, we dominated the second half.

"He (Mo Salah) plays in a very good team that provides him with good opportunities and then he is able to do special things. What makes him even more special for me is before we scored for 1-1, you thought, 'He is not playing his best game today,' but then to come up with a half-hour with an assist, two goals, having a shot against the bar and being a constant threat, that is something not many players can do if they've played the first hour like he did. 

"So, that is also what makes him special, apart from if you just look at the goals. His finishing is so clinical. A special player, but that's what we all know.

"To go away to Newcastle is such a difficult game to play and they have so much quality, throughout the whole squad but especially up front as well. So that they are able to score a goal, that's not a surprise for me and especially the first one, what a finish that was: from them I mean, ours was a great finish as well, but that shot from (Alexander) Isak, I don't even know if Caoimh (Kelleher) saw that goal, as hard as it was."

A banner in the East Stand before kick-off implored the Newcastle players to "get into them" and Eddie Howe's side did just that from the first whistle on Wednesday evening.

Five days after a Palace stalemate that felt like a loss, this draw had the vibe of a victory, such was the level of United's commitment and refusal to be beaten. Intensity and inspiration thankfully replaced the indolence sadly evident in their previous two outings.

Deservedly ahead at half time thanks to a thunderbolt from the boot of Alexander Isak, the Magpies were pegged back within five minutes when Mo Salah set up Curtis Jones to drive home.

Unbowed though, the hosts went back in front when Isak played in Anthony Gordon and his shot beat Caoimhin Kelleher in the Gallowgate End goal - United finally kicking the "right way" in the second half, after captain Bruno Guimaraes ended his losing sequence in pre-game coin tosses at SJP.

Having regained the lead though, Newcastle lost it just six minutes later when Salah slipped the ball home. The Egyptian then shaved the woodwork before seemingly winning it with his second and Liverpool's third on 83 minutes - all three goals stemming from lightning forays down their right.

What appeared to be a familiar tale of a Reds revival against us thankfully deviated from the script in the final seconds - substitute Harvey Barnes shoved over to the right of the visitor's box and Bruno flighting a free kick beyond the far post that Kelleher gave up as a lost cause. 

Not so Fabian Schar though, who slid in to improbably hook the ball home for 3-3. At first inspection that looked like a deliberate dead ball routine and looking back over the last few games, it does appear that we had attempted this previously but had over-hit the free kick.

Better performances abounded here from home players; Bruno involved in all three home goals, Gordon industrious and engaged, Isak taking his chance brilliantly, seeing another superb finish denied by an offside and unlucky not to win a penalty. 

Sandro Tonali meanwhile played his part in hassling the visiting defence - a ploy that paid dividends and was acknowledged by the Liverpool boss. The recalled Jacob Murphy also made an impact more substantial than filling the right wing slot in order to allow Gordon to occupy his favoured left flank.

Shaving the post at 0-0, Murphy again fired narrowly off target in the first half before leading a second half charge forward and coming achingly close with a irst-time lob Kelleher rushed out.  

After an anonymous first half, Liverpool's own Nile Ranger, Mo Salah, spreaheaded what threatened to become a tidal wave of attacks on the Newcastle goal as the rain began to fall. And by a typical combination of fair means and foul he looked to have been the difference between the two sides, until the incredulity of a 90th minute leveller that caught out more people than just the 'keeper.... 

The opportunity of topping that though was still to come: SJP on its feet and in full cry as the clock ticked past five minutes - including the ones at pitchside, finally. Pope's long throw set Isak and Wilson away with an unattended expanse of green between them and the Gallowgate End goal. Had that gone in, ground repairs may have been required. The whistle was like turning off a light. 

This was as close as Newcastle have come to replicating those 4-3 home wins from the 1990s; had they actually done so, there would have been some irony in Kevin Keegan turning down the chance to make a belated return to Gallowgate. He'd have probably left early to beat the traffic though...

Following victories over Arsenal and Spurs and draws with Manchester City and Liverpool this season, the task for Howe and his players now is to rediscover the knack of unpicking less fashionable and ambitious adversaries.

That description doesn't cover the next opponents Brentford, who may be struggling on their travels but possess the best home record in the Premier League. There may well be goals, especially if we can reproduce the appetite shown here against a side more than happy to trade blows. 

Biffa