Despite the fact that Rafa Benitez is one of the coolest and aloof men in football, drama and excitement seem to follow him around. Where Rafa goes, storylines flow. The last occasion Benitez brought a side back to Anfield saw a 2-2 draw overshadowed by Luis Suarez biting Branislav Ivanovic.
This afternoon Benitez arrived at L4 with Newcastle, and this time the shadow over a 2-2 draw was cast pre-game, with the news that Liverpool would not be selecting Mamadou Sakho while he appeals for examination of a 'B' sample having failed a drugs test after Liverpool's Europa League draw with Manchester United on March 17.
With Sakho not eligible, Kolo Toure played alongside Dejan Lovren as Liverpool began the game superbly, with Daniel Sturridge rifling home in front of the Kop inside the first minute. Newcastle were largely an irrelevance in the first half, with Liverpool coasting and they should probably have been further than 2-0 ahead at the break. Adam Lallana had curled a beautiful finish into the top corner after 20 minutes:
Liverpool look so full of confidence in every department. That was a great move with Firmino and Moreno combining before Lallana curled home
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceLFC) April 23, 2016
Despite utterly dominating the first half, Liverpool were oddly eager to get in at half-time, as one enterprising/annoying fan with a whistle proved before the referee blew for the break:
Someone in the crowd just blew a whistle. Fans all stood up, players stopped and headed for tunnel. #LFC
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceLFC) April 23, 2016
LMAO, hilarious scenes at Anfield.. someone in the crowd blew the half time whistle and players started walking off the pitch!
— Keith Mascarenhas (@keithxm23) April 23, 2016
Someone imitates half-time whistle from what appeared to be from Anfield Road end and everyone thinks it's over. @NUFC giving up already?
— Carl Markham (@carlmarkham) April 23, 2016
Rafa Benitez has some experience in overhauling deficits at half-time, and those powers that have so endeared him to Liverpool crowd came back to hoist Liverpool supporters. Although with Simon Mignolet deeply unimpressive on the first goal - coming out of his goal for an out swinging cross that he totally missed - perhaps the Newcastle comeback owed as much to Liverpool errors and complacency.
Firstly, Cisse capitalised on that Mignolet error, and then Jack Colback struck to equalise, making the most of vast open spaces in the Liverpool midfield with Kevin Stewart overwhelmed while Lucas Leiva sat on the bench.
Liverpool fans continue to be exasperated by Mignolet, but Newcastle fans are quickly falling in love with Benitez, as he arrested a run of nine straight defeats:
In the Premier League no player has made more defensive errors leading to a goal this season than Simon Mignolet (4) pic.twitter.com/6Ca40Nkh2b
— Squawka (@Squawka) April 23, 2016
Jürgen Klopp wanted #LFC fans to give Rafa Benitez a warm welcome at Anfield, not his players. Poor 2nd 45 after such a comfortable 1st half
— Melissa Reddy (@MelissaReddy_) April 23, 2016
I absolutely love Rafa Benitez
— Lee Cartwright (@leecarty) April 23, 2016
I'm in love with Benitez, I will be distraught if we go down, we have to keep him. #toonarmy
— Sam chapman (@sam_chapman03) April 23, 2016
For Liverpool, a difficult day ends with the throwing away of a two-goal lead yet again, having done so against Sunderland and Southampton already this season.
19 - Liverpool have dropped more points from winning positions than any other team in the @PremierLeague. Slips.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 23, 2016
Newcastle, however, now have a realistic shot at avoiding relegation, and how they must regret not appointing Benitez earlier. Had they, you feel they would have seen off relegation worries with something to spare. Klopp and Liverpool are a good fit, and Benitez and Newcastle can be also. They have to keep him.
