Daniel Sturridge Proves His Quality Again in Liverpool’s 2-2 Draw with Newcastle

ANFIELD, Liverpool, England — Liverpool blew a two-goal lead for the third time in three months to gift Rafael Benitez’s relegation-threatened Newcastle United side a precious point in their fight for survival on Saturday.

The home side were cruising at half-time, 2-0 up thanks to goals from Daniel Sturridge and Adam Lallana, and seemingly on their way to a fourth consecutive league win. But a lapse in concentration from goalkeeper Simon Mignolet early in the second period handed Papiss Cisse the easiest goal of the season, and Jack Colback equalised for the Magpies with a deflected shot in the 66th minute.

In truth, a 2-2 draw did little for either side’s end-of-season aims. A win may have given Liverpool an outside hope of pushing for a top-four finish, but instead they’re eight points behind fourth-placed Arsenal, having played the same games and with only four matches remaining.

Meanwhile, the point left Newcastle deep in the mire at the bottom. They’re level on points with north-east rivals Sunderland, but they have played two games more.

Benitez will be the happier of the two managers, having seen his side show character to come back from two goals behind. Klopp will note his side’s repeated ability to self-capitulate and know things must change next season.

Klopp, though, was not too disappointed with his team post-match, saying the Reds were comfortably the better side throughout, especially the first half.

He did, however, bemoan “two shots on target, two goals—not too good.”

The manager disagreed with the decision not to award Sturridge a penalty for the foul on him early in the …

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