Fabian Schar hooked in a late equaliser as impressive Newcastle held Premier League leaders Liverpool to a draw in a hugely entertaining game at St James' Park.

The Reds thought they had done enough to secure a victory that would have maintained their nine-point lead at the top of the table after twice coming from behind before Mohamed Salah put them 3-2 ahead with seven minutes to go.

But Schar volleyed in from a free-kick that Caoimhin Kelleher came for but failed to claim to ensure a deserved point for Newcastle.

Liverpool had gone into this game on the back of an impressive defeat of defending champions Manchester City that ensured they started these midweek fixtures nine points clear at the top.

But they looked out-of-sorts against a Newcastle side who showed their intent from the outset.

Jacob Murphy issued a warning when he clipped the post with a shot, before Alexander Isak stunned the visitors with a brilliant strike from distance.

Anthony Gordon almost made it 2-0 moments later after a mistake by Joe Gomez but his shot was denied by Kelleher.

It looked like being a crucial save as Liverpool levelled early in the second half when Curtis Jones fired home a first-time strike from Salah's cross.

But Gordon sent St James' Park wild when he cut inside a defender before his strike squirmed past Kelleher.

However, Salah equalised with a scooped finish before slotting in what he believed would be the winner - until Schar's late finish.

The smile on Liverpool boss Arne Slot's face said it all when the full-time whistle was blown in this enthralling game.

Both managers had gone through all the emotions having seen their respective sides ahead and behind at various points, but Slot's overriding one will be relief.

The Reds had claimed some impressive wins at home and in Europe in the past month, beating Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen, La Liga champions and Champions League holders Real Madrid, and Premier League champions Manchester City.

But this game was arguably one of the toughest they have had this season.

The Reds struggled from the outset to deal with Newcastle's press while their makeshift defence, featuring Jarell Quansah at right-back and Joe Gomez alongside Virgil van Dijk in the middle, was rarely able handle the movement and creativity of Isak and Gordon.

But in the second half they showed once again they have the fight for this title battle, with the ever-reliable Salah leading their charge.

He exemplified their never-say-die attitude and looked to have secured a fifth successive Premier League win as his two goals took him to 13 for the season and top of the league's scoring charts.

There was to be one final twist in this topsy-turvy encounter with Schar's late strike, but Slot will no doubt see this as a point gained rather than two lost.

It has been an inconsistent season so far for Newcastle with impressive results like their 1-0 win against Arsenal at St James' Park in early November overshadowed later that month by a home loss to struggling West Ham.

But this performance showed they have the quality and desire to reignite their challenge for the top four.

From the beginning they showed intensity and desire, with Isak - a fitness doubt for this game because of a hip issue - a constant menace for the Liverpool defence.

They had chances to go 2-0 up before Liverpool equalised, but for more than an hour they executed their gameplan superbly and looked in with a real chance of condemning the visitors to only their second defeat of the season after Gordon's goal.

But despite the disappointment of Salah's double turning the game on its head, they deserve credit for battling to the end and securing a deserved point.