The Warm Down: Liverpool rue missed chances as Newcastle snatch late point at Anfield

Newcastle take a big step in survival-bid as Liverpool's Champions League hopes take a hit.

Joe Willock of Newcastle United scores their side's first goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Anfield on April 24, 2021 in Liverpool, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by David Klein - Pool/Getty Images)

By Lewis Barton24 April 2021 16:58 BST

A last-minute Joe Willock goal cancelled out Mohammed Salah's first-half strike as Newcastle United earn a valuable point against Liverpool at Anfield.

Salah opened the scoring three minutes in when he expertly plucked the ball out of the air, swiveled away from his marker, and drilled a robust effort into the top corner.

Sadio Mane, Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino all missed great chances to extend Liverpool's lead in the first half, and they paid the price in the last minute when Willock's deflected shot levelled the scoring.

The Reds' blushes were spared minutes earlier when Callum Wilson was denied a goal for a dubious handball decision.

So what does that result mean for both teams in their aims for the rest of the season? This is the Warm Down.

Missed chances come back to bite Liverpool

Score early on, miss an abundance of chances, concede late on. That seems to be the story of Liverpool's season so far.

After Salah's early opener and the dominance on show in possession from Jurgen Klopp's side, it once again looked to be a comfortable afternoon for Liverpool, and another goal would've potentially killed off the game early on.

The chances kept coming with Mane and Jota being sent through into good positions to score on multiple occasions, but a lack of concentration and killer instinct let them down in front of goal.

As the game wore on, the chances dried up, and ultimately, the Reds suffered from their own wrongdoing once again, making it 11 points won from a possible 33 against the bottom seven teams in the Premier League this season.

Saint-Maximin flourishes again.

It's hard to watch Allan Saint-Maximin and not end up in awe of his raw footballing ability.

Unfortunately, injuries and illness have halted the Frenchman's progress this season, and it's no surprise that the Magpies have hit form and more or less confirmed their safety since the 24-year-old has had a run in the squad.

Throughout the game, he was a constant threat to the Liverpool backline, causing all sorts of problems. He was unlucky to not grab an assist in a first half of half-chances.

In 90 minutes, he completed the most dribbles in the match (8), was the most fouled player (3), and won the most duels (12).

If Saint-Maximin can stay fully fit for the Toon next season, it will be interesting to see the figures he could produce.

20 goals and counting, Mo Salah

In only his fourth season with Liverpool, the Egyptian winger has now managed to hit 20 goals or more in three Premier League seasons, more than any other Liverpool player in history.

The goal this afternoon also made him the 12th highest goalscorer in Liverpool's history. To put that into perspective, his goals per game ratio (1.61), is the best in Liverpool's top 20 goalscorers.

Now only one goal behind Harry Kane with five games left this season, Salah will be hungry to claim his third Premier League golden boot in Liverpool's last attempts at getting Champions League football for next season.