Liverpool vs. Newcastle: Score, Reaction from 2016 Premier League Match

Newcastle United kept their dreams of Premier League safety alive after battling back to earn a 2-2 draw against Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday. It was a happy homecoming for Magpies manager and former Reds boss Rafa Benitez, who saw his side turn around a 2-0 half-time deficit.

Daniel Sturridge and Adam Lallana had given Liverpool a commanding lead at the break, but Papiss Cisse and Jack Colback fired back in the second half to stun the Reds.

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The Magpies are now level with Sunderland and just a point shy of Norwich in 17th, although they've played more games than both. Still, Benitez, who won the UEFA Champions League and FA Cup during his time with Liverpool, is beginning to make his mark.

Anfield chief Jurgen Klopp made a few changes ahead of next Thursday's UEFA Europa League semi-final first leg against Villarreal.

Daniel Sturridge came in up front in place of the injured Divock Origi, while Kolo Toure replaced Mamadou Sakho at the heart of defence, per the club:

French centre-back Sakho was missing out while UEFA investigate a "possible anti-doping rule violation," per Liverpool (h/t the Guardian's Andy Hunter).

Meanwhile, Benitez once again left talented Dutchman Georginio Wijnaldum on the bench, according to the Magpies:

The game was barely seconds old when Sturridge muscled his way onto the ball in the box before firing home. Miles Starforth of the Shields Gazette bemoaned the lack of resistance from Newcastle's defence:

Sturridge has had his usual injury problems this season, but he's still remained lethal in front of goal. The England man is on a prolific run currently, according to WhoScored.com:

Speaking on BBC One's Final Score (h/t BBC Match of the Day), former West Ham United winger Trevor Sinclair believes Sturridge is making a strong case to be included for his country at this summer's UEFA Euro 2016:

Yet, despite their early collapse, the Magpies soon settled and began playing a composed game in possession. Liverpool's momentum also wasn't helped by injury scares for a pair of defenders, left-back Alberto Moreno and centre-back Dejan Lovren.

Both were eventually able to continue after heavy challenges, but the stoppage in play for their respective treatment disturbed the flow of the game.

Once play resumed, Liverpool went back on the front foot, with both Sturridge and Roberto Firmino posing a threat. Firmino's fellow attacking midfielder Lallana was also impressing with some artful passing and subtle off-the-ball running.

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It was the ex-Southampton man who doubled Liverpool's lead on the half-hour mark when he curled a shot into the far corner of the net. The finish was a classy one from a player thriving in Klopp's high-energy style of attacking football.

Speaking of style, James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo was impressed with how attractively the Reds created Lallana's shooting chance:

The goalscorer and Firmino may have been at the heart of some of Liverpool's best work going forward, but another midfielder was also catching the eye, according to the Liverpool Echo's Kristian Walsh:

Ex-Swansea City playmaker Joe Allen was indeed buzzing around the middle and shifting the ball well. He kept his passing simple, ensuring the players who could really make the difference in the final third were receiving the ball quickly and in space. 

Benitez finally saw sense at the start of the second half and introduced Wijnaldum for the disappointing Ayoze Perez. The effect was almost immediate when Cisse nodded in after a smart cross from Vurnon Anita.

Not for the first time this season, goalkeeper Simon Mignolet appeared at fault for the goal, per Squawka:

On this occasion, the Belgian stopper misjudged Anita's cross, failing to claim when he looked favourite.

But the Reds felt they should have been granted a swift reply when Newcastle's midfield destroyer Cheick Tiote appeared to bundle Sturridge over in the box. But the referee was unmoved by the striker's frankly exaggerated fall.

Liverpool were clearly rocked, and it was little surprise when Colback drew the visitors level. His shot needed a wicked deflection to beat the unfortunate Mignolet.

The Reds pressed a lot late on but couldn't break Newcastle down. Their frustration is in sharp contrast to Newcastle's relief at what could prove to be a vital point in their bid to stay up.

Post-Match Reaction

Klopp was left to bemoan the penalty he felt should have been given when Sturridge was felled early in the second half, according to the Chronicle's Lee Ryder:

The German also felt aggrieved his side had been punished from so small an attacking threat:

By contrast, Benitez was happy to praise the key qualities he felt helped his team fight back, per Ryder writing for the Chronicle:

"

It was more than shouting at them they had to realise how we have to play if we want to stay up.

I said so many times since I was here, that they have trained really well and they needed confidence.

They have shown confidence and character and passion. We have seen that in the last few games.

"

Klopp is right to rue the loss of two points when three seemed a certainty early on. In all honesty though, it's likely his team is more focused on the European campaign than domestic form.

But Benitez will welcome any point he can get at this stage of the season. Having been two down against a side in impressive form, the former Anfield boss has to see this point as a real bonus in the battle to beat the drop.