Liverpool manager Arne Slot jumped to the defence of Caoimhín Kelleher after his last gasp mistake denied his side a win in a thrilling 3-3 draw at Newcastle.
Fabian Schar snatched victory from Liverpool’s grasp as he cashed in on a misjudgement from Liverpool and Ireland keeper Kelleher, as he left a cross he believed was going out of play.
Mohamed Salah looked to have sealed an eighth successive win in all competitions when his second-half double – both set up by substitute Trent Alexander-Arnold – put the visitors 3-2 ahead after Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon had struck either side of Curtis Jones’ equaliser.
However, Switzerland defender Schar squeezed home a 90th-minute equaliser to claim a deserved point at the end of a thrilling encounter which rekindled memories of the two 4-3 classics between the sides during the 1990s.
Slot was asked to give his reaction to Kelleher’s late error and he was quick to defend his Irish keeper.
“He has done remarkably well for us and even today he was good for us,” he said. “Unfortunately, he misjudged the situation. He will learn from that.”
Former Republic of Ireland keeper Shay Given was also quick to defend the Ireland No.1, as he gave his reaction to Amazon Prime.
“I feel for Caoimhín Kelleher because he’s done really well for Liverpool recently. But one mistake doesn’t make him a bad goalkeeper,” said Given.
“It’s just a misjudgement. He thought Fabian Schar was not going to reach it. He was in a good position but just takes his hand away in the final moment.
“It’s just an error, as Arne Slot was saying, and I’m sure he will learn from that.”
Liverpool boss Arne Slot talks up ‘special player’ Mohamed Salah
Slot was also in reflective mood as he admitted his side may not have deserved to win an intense match on Tyneside.
“I have mixed feelings, we were outstanding in the second half but we were not good enough in the first half. Maybe 3-3 is what the game deserved,” said the Liverpool boss.
“They were really aggressive and forced us into mistakes but we were so much better in the second half. I knew the game could be changed around, we were much better with the ball.
“After the week we had we could change the game which is a very positive thing to take. Every time we need Mo Salah he scores a goal.
“We are hoping and expecting he can continue this for a long time. He was outstanding in the second half, he did many special things for us.
“If you want to win this game, you need to be better in the first half and that’s what we didn’t do.”
Slot had earlier reaffirmed his stance that Kelleher would be relegated to the bench when Alisson Becker is fit to return, as he responded to a question from former Ireland keeper Shay Given.
“I think I’ve been clear about the decision already a few times, but it is just as difficult as all the situations,” he stated. “I don’t think Luis Diaz or Dominik Szoboszlai deserve to be on the bench today if you look at their performances from Sunday.
Newcastle United’s Fabian Schar scores their third goal against Liverpool.
“But it’s a long season. A goalkeeper is a different situation. We are just as happy with Caoimhín as you are. He’s done outstanding and that’s what we should talk about now instead of what’s going to happen in a week or in two weeks.”
Schar secured a dramatic 3-3 draw with a sensational 90th-minute equaliser that he later confessed was an attempt to keep the ball in play.
Schar dived with his feet forward to send a Bruno Guimaraes free-kick into the net from a tight angle as Liverpool keeper Caoimhín Kelleher was caught out of position, earning a crucial point at home for 10th-placed Newcastle.
“Well to be honest, I was on a stretch so I thought I’d try to keep it in play and bring it into the dangerous area,” Swiss defender Schar told Amazon Prime, adding that he could not say whether he actually wanted to shoot.
“But obviously great goal, a great finish.”
Newcastle, who have tripped up the league’s top teams multiple times this season, holding Manchester City in September and beating Arsenal last month, will visit Brentford on Saturday.