Newcastle extended their unbeaten run to four games on Saturday, despite spending most of the visit to Anfield trailing before Joe Willock came off the bench to level in the fifth minute of added time.

However, that equaliser came only after a controversial VAR call that denied fellow Magpies substitute Callum Wilson an apparent equaliser moments earlier.

Wilson latched on to Allan Saint-Maxmin's through ball and bore down on goal with two Liverpool defenders in pursuit - who both made deliberate contact with him before he shot.

That effort on goal bounced off Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson and back on to Wilson, whose entirely accidental touch was confirmed by replay to be off his arm before he tucked the loose ball home.

Under the current reading of the law, the goal was disallowed after a VAR review by Andy Madley, but he failed to flag up the clear push by Trent Alexander-Arnold that preceded the fateful handball.

Quite how only one goal had been scored in the game by that point was something of a mystery, but once again Newcastle can point to an effective deployment of their substitutions - having ridden their luck when adopting an ultra-deep defensive line after conceding.

Things looked bleak for United when Mo Salah twisted to bury an unstoppable volley with barely three minutes gone. And although an unchanged side created one good chance that Sean Longstaff couldn't finish, the Reds made and missed a succession of opportunities to increase their lead, despite some suicidal attempts by United to play out of their own area.

The interventions of goalkeeper Martin Dubravka would also prove crucial; steady and strong without making headline stops.

Deemed fit to start and targeted by the home side with some robust challenges, Saint-Maximin was United's main forward threat but often lacked support - Joelinton and Miggy Almiron both uninspiring.

Joelinton had done well to work a 55th minute opening but shot weakly, and until the end of normal time that had been Newcastle's last effort on target - the introduction of Wilson, Willock and Gayle having failed to produce any tangible reward. Jonjo Shelvey meanwhile finished up in central defence, emulating the tactical ploy that came to fruition at home to Spurs.

Then came the Wilson incident, prompting an extension to the original four minutes of added time - during which a deep cross into the area from Paul Dummett was headed across goal by Gayle for Willock to beat Alisson from 12 yards via a deflection off Firmino in front of the empty away end.

The point left Newcastle nine points clear of third-bottom Fulham, both sides with five games remaining.

It's a funny old game this football lark, with all that glorious unpredictability caused by the continued imposition of a level playing field. Long may it continue, regardless of the dark deeds of Fenway Sports and their fellow conspirators.

Three points for us today would have been a symbolic smack in the chops, but helping to derail Liverpool's Champions League aspirations will do - after all, that was a competition they turned their nose up at a week ago....

This Magpies side may have ridden their luck and on another day could have shipped four or five goals, but enormous credit is due to them for pushing forward right to the last whistle once again.

The context of Liverpool being repeat offenders when failing at home this season is valid, but for us to go here and not be routinely crushed is a novelty, as was finishing at full strength (although a harsher VAR call could have resulted in Federico Fernandez seeing red not yellow for elbowing Jota).

That Brighton surrender increasingly looks pivotal to our resurgence, being the point when we stopped relying on the deeds of other strugglers and attempted to shape our own destiny.

Quite what happened in the aftermath of that within the dressing room isn't fully known, but in each of the four subsequent games, the players revived themselves from a losing or drawing position to gain a point or three, scoring the final goal of the game on each occasion. That's a habit NUFC have rarely exhibited; we're more used to struggling over the finishing line.

As a consequence, we're seven points better off and the nightmare scenario of travelling to Craven Cottage for a final day showdown continues to diminish. In this most bizarre of seasons, treading water is acceptable, at least from our (remote) viewpoint.

There are still many things that need to be put right at this club, but perhaps there's less wrong with the attitude and aptitude of the first team squad than they themselves led us to believe at times this season.

Biffa
 

This report is dedicated to life-long Toon fan and proud Geordie Gary Robert Gibson who died recently. Ashington-born Gary was a chef in the Royal Navy, seeing action in the Falklands on HMS Broadsword. Becoming head chef at Sandhurst Military College, he later joined the MoD Guard Service.
 
Our condolences go to wife Julie-Anne, daughter Kirsty, son James, grandson Finn and all his family and friends. His family asked for this message to be added:

"Gary's reasons for taking his own life can never be understood, but serve as a reminder to pause, and take time to reach out to anyone you know.

"They may appreciate that helping hand, heartfelt gesture of stupidity, pint watching a match, or just the simple company of a friend - as he often did."

Gary pictured with son James