On this day: Liverpool trump Newcastle United in seven-goal thriller

Nineteen years ago today, Liverpool edged out Newcastle United 4-3 at Anfield in a game widely considered the best in Premier League history.

Ask a handful of football supporters to pick out their favourite match of the Premier League era, and the chances are you will receive a mixed batch of answers.

Since its inception in 1992, the English top flight has produced many a memorable game, although perhaps none more so than Liverpool's meeting against Newcastle United at Anfield on this day 19 years ago.

Many will agree that this seven-goal thriller, which eventually ended with the Reds claiming all three points to seriously dent their opponents' title charge, deserves its place in folklore for its entertainment value and long-lasting legacy.

Stan Collymore of Liverpool scores a dramatic last minute winning goal during the FA Carling Premiership match between Liverpool and Newcastle United played at Anfield on April 3, 1996© Getty Images

Despite seeing a 12-point lead at the summit slip away, the Magpies headed into the game knowing that victory would take them level with leaders Manchester United at the top with a game in hand still left to play.

Liverpool had less to compete for on the face of it, sitting firmly among the chasing pack with only the faintest of title-winning hopes, although having defeated Aston Villa just a few days earlier to book their place in the FA Cup final, the Anfield crowd were certainly well behind their side under the floodlights.

It was Roy Evans's men who started the better on Merseyside, racing ahead through Robbie Fowler's second-minute header, before Les Ferdinand and David Ginola turned the game around with two strikes within the space of four minutes.

The chances continued to fall the way of both teams, but it was Fowler who was next to find the net with his second of the night in what proved to be a prolific scoring campaign for the Englishman.

Liverpool supporters barely had time to stop celebrating before Faustino Asprilla's clever toe-poke from outside the box regained the visitors' lead, although there was to be a dramatic twist in the final 20 minutes.

Stan Collymore was the next player to add his name to the scoresheet, levelling up the contest in front of the Kop end, which set up the game's famous decisive moment.

Les Ferdinand of Newcastle celebrates after scoring the equaliser against Liverpool during their FA Premiership game at Anfield on April 3, 1996© Getty Images

A move instigated by John Barnes culminated in the legendary striker seemingly getting in the way of substitute Ian Rush - now in his final season at the club - but he managed to recover the ball to lay it across the box where Collymore was waiting to smash it home.

Cue euphoric scenes around the famous old ground, which had just witnessed 90 of its most entertaining minutes. Kevin Keegan, meanwhile, sat in the opposition dugout, slumped over the advertising hoardings in shock at the finale he had just witnessed.

It proved to be a costly defeat for Newcastle, who fell victim to a late charge from Man United to miss out on the league crown by four points in the end.

While the win may not have instigated the turn in fortunes that Liverpool supporters would have hoped for, this game will remain etched firmly into the history of the Premier League for many a year.

LIVERPOOL XI: James, Wright (Harkness), Scales, Ruddock, McAteer, Redknapp, Barnes, Jones (Rush), McManaman, Collymore, Fowler

NEWCASTLE UNITED XI: Srnicek, Watson, Howey (Peacock), Albert, Beresford, Beardsley, Batty, Lee, Ginola, Asprilla, Ferdinand

Robbie Fowler of Liverpool in good spirits after a near miss provided by Steven Gerrard during the Steven Gerrard Testimonial Match between Liverpool and Olympiacos at Anfield on August 03, 2013
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19Newcastle UnitedNewcastle3067172955-2625
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