Few Premier League fixtures carry the same unpredictability, the same ability to produce sheer theatre, as Liverpool vs Newcastle United. This is not a traditional rivalry born out of geography or politics. It is a rivalry born of chaos—of nights when defences collapse, attackers take centre stage, and the scriptwriters of football deliver endings no novelist could invent.

With Liverpool set to visit St James’ Park on Monday night, the stage feels primed once again. To understand the weight of expectation, we need only look back at the catalogue of extraordinary contests these two sides have produced.

The Original Epic: Liverpool 4–3 Newcastle (1996)

Some matches transcend their moment; this one defined an era.

Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle United arrived at Anfield chasing their first league title since 1927. They were the “Entertainers”—a side built on attacking verve, starring David Ginola, Les Ferdinand, and Faustino Asprilla. Liverpool, under Roy Evans, were hardly conservative themselves, with Fowler, McManaman, and Collymore embodying their free-flowing style.

What followed was ninety minutes of chaos. Fowler gave Liverpool the lead, Ferdinand equalised, Ginola danced through to put Newcastle ahead, and Asprilla’s delicate finish made it 3–2 after Fowler’s second. Then, in the dying seconds, John Barnes slipped a pass to Stan Collymore, who lashed in the winner at the Kop End.

The image of Keegan slumped over the advertising hoarding—crestfallen, broken—remains etched into football’s collective memory. It was more than just a defeat; it was a turning point in Newcastle’s faltering title bid, and it cemented the game as one of the Premier League’s most famous.

Déjà Vu: Liverpool 4–3 Newcastle (1997)

Lightning rarely strikes twice, but in March 1997, Anfield was hit again.

Liverpool stormed into a 3–0 lead inside half an hour through McManaman, Fowler, and Berger. Game over? Not against Newcastle. Warren Barton, Faustino Asprilla, and Keith Gillespie dragged the visitors level, sparking delirium in the away end.

But as the clock ticked into stoppage time, it was Robbie Fowler—who else?—who popped up with the winner, heading home to condemn Newcastle to another 4–3 defeat.

Two seasons, two seven-goal thrillers, both ending in heartbreak for the Magpies. By then, “Liverpool vs Newcastle” had become synonymous with drama.

Torres at His Peak: Liverpool 3–0 Newcastle (2008)

Sometimes this rivalry isn’t about chaos but about brilliance.

By 2008, Newcastle were a club in disarray. Liverpool, meanwhile, had Fernando Torres at his devastating best. He toyed with Newcastle’s defence, scoring once and creating havoc alongside Steven Gerrard. It finished 3–0, but the gulf felt far larger.

This game doesn’t stand out for drama, but for the reminder that at their peaks, Liverpool’s attacking talents often made the difference in this fixture.

Reds add to Magpies’ misery

Liverpool dropped Newcastle further into the Premier League relegation mire with a 3-0 victory at Anfield.

Sky SportsPeter Fraser

Title Race Tension: Newcastle 2–3 Liverpool (2019)

Fast-forward to May 2019, and Liverpool were chasing Manchester City in one of the greatest title races in Premier League history. Every game was must-win.

At a raucous St James’ Park, Virgil van Dijk’s header and Mohamed Salah’s strike were cancelled out by Christian Atsu and Salomón Rondón. Then Salah was stretchered off after a collision, and the tension grew unbearable.

With the score locked at 2–2 in the 86th minute, Xherdan Shaqiri swung in a free-kick. Up rose Divock Origi, the unlikeliest of heroes, to glance home a priceless winner. Liverpool’s players collapsed in celebration; the title dream lived on.

This was not just a football match—it was survival in a relentless sprint against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.

Darwin’s Night: Newcastle 1–2 Liverpool (2023)

In August 2023, the latest chapter in this rivalry was written.

Newcastle took the lead through Anthony Gordon after a defensive lapse, and Virgil van Dijk’s red card left Liverpool down to 10 men. St James’ Park smelled blood, the noise was deafening, and the home side pushed for the killer second.

Then came Darwin Núñez. Sent on as a substitute, the Uruguayan produced two stunning finishes in the final ten minutes to complete one of the great smash-and-grab victories. Jürgen Klopp’s celebration on the touchline said it all: Liverpool had once again snatched chaos from the jaws of defeat.

Why This Fixture Always Delivers

Some fixtures are reliable. They give you goals, but not drama. Others are cagey chess matches where one goal settles it. Liverpool vs Newcastle, however, belongs to an entirely different category. This is a fixture that seems destined to produce chaos, theatre, and unforgettable moments every time it appears on the calendar.

It is not born of proximity—the cities are separated by 175 miles. It is not born of deep-rooted hatred, like the Merseyside derby or the Tyne-Wear clashes. Instead, Liverpool vs Newcastle has been defined by a consistent collision of philosophies, personalities, and atmospheres that turn ninety minutes into something far greater than the sum of its parts.

Clash of Styles

At its core, the drama of this fixture stems from the way the two sides approach football.

Kevin Keegan’s “Entertainers” in the 1990s embodied the belief that attack was the best form of defence. His Newcastle side poured forward with flair and freedom, producing a brand of football that thrilled neutrals but often left them exposed. Against Liverpool—another side built on pace, invention, and attacking quality—the results were electric.

Fast forward to the modern day, and the philosophies remain strikingly similar. Arne Slots’s Liverpool have become synonymous with smart, high octane football: controlled pressing, quick transitions, and an unshakable willingness to turn a game on its head in an instant. Eddie Howe’s Newcastle, though more balanced, have taken on an aggressive identity of their own. They press high, commit numbers forward, and take risks that make for thrilling football—especially under the floodlights at St James’ Park.

When two sides play without fear, the pitch becomes a battlefield where momentum shifts in waves. Unlike matches where one team sits deep and frustrates, Liverpool vs Newcastle rarely allows for dead air. Every pass has the potential to split the game wide open.

Moments of Brilliance

The fixture also delivers because of the players who have graced it. Some games are defined by systems; this one is defined by moments.

Robbie Fowler’s sharp instincts turned him into a nightmare for Newcastle in the 1990s. Alan Shearer’s thunderous finishing gave the Magpies hope every time he pulled on the black and white. The 2000s brought Fernando Torres at his devastating peak, dismantling Newcastle’s back line with speed and precision.

In more recent years, Mohamed Salah has become a fixture of menace in this clash, scoring vital goals that underline his status as one of the Premier League’s most consistent game-changers. And in 2023, Darwin Núñez wrote his own chapter—two ice-cold finishes with ten men on the pitch to stun St James’ Park and snatch victory.

Each era seems to throw up a new protagonist, a new star who uses this game as a canvas to paint one of their career’s defining pictures.

The Crowd as a Character

Then there is the atmosphere.

At Anfield, the Kop has provided the backdrop to some of the Premier League’s most iconic late winners. Stan Collymore’s decisive strike in 1996 was not just a goal; it was a roar, an eruption that seemed to shake the stadium itself. Moments like that linger in the psyche of every player who wears red.

At St James’ Park, the story is no different. The Gallowgate End generates a wall of sound that makes the ground feel alive. For Newcastle supporters, Liverpool are a measuring stick—a reminder of how high they aspire to climb. Victories in this fixture are celebrated with an extra edge, defeats felt more bitterly. When the game becomes frantic, the crowd pushes it into overdrive.

The fans don’t just witness the spectacle; they become part of it.

Monday Night: St James’ Park Awaits

So, what of the present? Newcastle, under Eddie Howe, are a side in transition but with ambition burning bright. Their midfield boasts intensity through Bruno Guimarães and Tonali, while Alexander Isak provides clinical finishing. At home, they are a force, with St James’ Park now one of the league’s loudest and most intimidating venues.

Liverpool, meanwhile, arrive in search of control in a season of change. Salah remains the talisman, but Federico Chiesa has added potentially a new edge on the wing, while Ekitike—fresh off a scintillating start to his Liverpool career—will be itching for more.

The stakes are high. Both sides are eyeing the top four, both crave statement wins, and both carry scars from their shared history. Monday night promises tension, speed, and, if the past is any guide, a game that might just enter Premier League folklore.

• Predicted Score: Newcastle 1–2 Liverpool
• Scorers: Gordon (NEW); Salah, Ekitike (LIV)
• Key Performer: Mohamed Salah – his movement between the lines, ability to drift wide, and clinical edge could be the difference in a tight contest.

Liverpool’s attacking quality should edge it, but expect Newcastle to make this a hard-fought, high-intensity battle that goes deep into the final minutes.