Stan Collymore scores Liverpool's winner in their 4-3 win over Newcastle

Premier League's greatest games: Liverpool 4-3 Newcastle - On This Day April 3, 1996

By Paul Higham

Football

Fri April 03, 2020 · 6y ago

Liverpool and Newcastle played out one of the most iconic Premier League games in history on April 3 in 1996 - look back at that epic encounter.

“Collymore closing in, Liverpool lead in stoppage time!” Is one of those iconic moments in football commentary and instantly conjures up memories of that incredible ending to a pulsating game at Anfield that must go down as one of the best in Premier League history – if not the very best of the lot.

Liverpool 4-3 Newcastle, on April 3 1996, is still regarded as the best game he’s ever commentated on by Sky Sports’ Martin Tyler – who spoke those famous words to add to those famous pictures of Kevin Keegan slumped down on the advertising boards in utter disbelief at what was happening. And at a ground where he was once adored as a Liverpool star.

🙌 What. A. Game.

📽️ All seven goals from Liverpool's iconic 4-3 victory over Newcastle, sealed by @StanCollymore in stoppage-time...#LFC #LIVNEW pic.twitter.com/AMkKeZWDR5
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) April 3, 2020

Often it’s circumstances that can make games, and the wider context of Newcastle’s Premier League title challenge slipping away mirrored perfectly how this game went – an entire season full of thrills and spills encapsulated in one 90-odd minute showpiece.

The situation

Newcastle enjoyed a 12-point lead at the top of the table in January but went into this showdown with Liverpool three points behind leaders Manchester United and with two games in hand to still get back on top of the standings.

Liverpool, who were in prime ‘Spice Boys’ territory, sat in third and despite having scored more and conceded less than the top two they were unlikely title winners, sitting eight points off United, albeit with a game in hand.

Still, it was still mathematically possible and, with just six games to go for United, seven for Liverpool and eight for Newcastle, we were also in prime ‘squeaky bum’ territory as the run-in came to a thrilling finale.

And what better backdrop than a thunderous Anfield atmosphere for the latest instalment of this season.

The game

Liverpool boss Roy Evans was again employing his three-at-the-back formation that was innovative at the time, but it was all about the attacking players on show as 90s greats such as Fowler, McManaman, Collymore went up against Ginola, Asprilla, Beardsley and Ferdinand.

The hosts struck a hammer blow after just two minutes, with Robbie Fowler heading in his 27th goal of the season, but the lead only lasted eight minutes before Newcastle hit back with Les Ferdinand thumping past David James from close range.

David Ginola then put Newcastle ahead in the 14th minute and, despite plenty of chances at either end, that’s how they went in at half time.

Fowler bagged his second on 55 minutes, but yet again Newcastle hit back inside a couple of minutes, with Faustino Asprilla dinking beyond the on-rushing James to re-ignite the travelling Toon fans’ hopes of lifting the title.

Collymore was to burst that bubble though, firstly by equalising in the 68th minute and then, as the game looked to be heading to a draw, grabbing one of the most famous winners of one of the most famous games – accompanied by some of the most iconic commentary and TV pictures in memory.

Substitute Ian Rush played a series of one-twos with John Barnes on the edge of a panicked Newcastle penalty area, before the ball was fed out to Collymore on the left hand side of the box, Kop end.

Drawing his left foot back, and spanking the ball beyond Pavel Srnicek. Sending the Kop wild, but sending Keegan into utter disarray on the Newcastle bench.

Aftermath & reaction

"To be fair, it was kamikaze defending. Managers would be dead within six months if every game was like that.” That was the view of Liverpool boss Evans after the game.

“There’s still a long way to go,” said Keegan, but it was ultimately going to be a case of so near yet so far for him and Newcastle, despite beating QPR three days later to keep up the pressure on United.

Defeat to Blackburn gave United the overall advantage and it was soon after that Keegan broke, with his “love it if we beat them” outburst confirmed that Sir Alex Ferguson’s mind games had done the trick.

The Magpies eventually finished second, four points behind United, and led to Keegan offering to resign. That was rejected by the Newcastle board but he quit in January 1997.

For Liverpool, they lost their next game at Coventry and eventually finished third, their highest finish since the Premier League was formed.