By Matthew Jones
September 3 2002

Alan Shearer's 88th minute strike completed a memorable comeback as Newcastle came from two-goals down to earn a 2-2 draw at Liverpool. Alan Shearer's 88th minute strike completed a memorable comeback as Newcastle came from two-goals down to earn a 2-2 draw at Liverpool.

A triple substitution by Bobby Robson proved the catalyst for the Magpies to secure a share of the spoils at Anfield, with Gary Speed and Shearer levelling matters after Dietmar Hamann and a Michael Owen penalty had put Liverpool in the driving seat.

The Reds had fully deserved their two-goal advantage and should have been ahead before German international Hamann slotted home to break the deadlock against his former club nine minutes into the second half.

Hamann raced into the area after Nolberto Solano failed to control a risky pass from Shay Given, and neatly beat the Republic of Ireland keeper with a low shot into the far corner.

Owen put an end to his frustrations 19 minutes later, notching his first goal of the season from the spot after Sami Hyypia had been impeded by Nicos Dabizas as the pair jostled to reach a corner.

Wales international Speed gave the Magpies some hope with ten minutes remaining as he took full advantage of fine flank play by substitutes Craig Bellamy and Laurent Robert to sidefoot home from 7 yards.
Shearer sent the visiting support into raptures eight minutes later as he rose above Hyypia to head home Robert's corner.

Gerard Houllier's men had created a number of openings in the first half, with Hamann firing wide from 30 yards, Owen's effort cleared off the line and Given palming away a cross deflected goalbound by defender Titus Bramble in the opening 22 minutes alone.

With Owen in determined mood to break his goalscoring duck, Newcastle were also thankful for Aaron Hughes's last ditch challenge to deny the England ace an open goal after confusion in the Magpies' rearguard.

The best Bobby Robson's men could muster in attack was a tame Kieron Dyer shot on 25 minutes which Jerzy Dudek easily gathered.

Owen remained in hot pursuit of his first goal, flashing a header just wide and spurning a gilt-edged opportunity as his left-foot strike cleared the bar with only Given to beat.

Liverpool pushed on with renewed impetus following Hamann's strike, forcing Bobby Robson to introduce all three substitutes as Jermaine Jenas, Bellamy and Robert replaced Solano, Lomana Tresor LuaLua and Hugo Viana.

The changes almost earned immediate dividends, only for Robert to see his right-foot shot from just outside the area cannon back off the post.
That looked to have been Newcastle's last chance of gaining anything from the clash as, seven minutes later, Owen got the goal his perseverance deserved.

However, two goals in the final 10 minutes changed the face of the game, and Newcastle could even have won it in stoppage time as Shearer slid in to connect with another tempting Robert cross, only to be denied at point-blank range by Dudek.
The result sees Liverpool remain third in the table, while Newcastle climb to 13th spot.