Liverpool and Newcastle's "kamikaze football" that left Kevin Keegan heartbroken

Liverpool welcome Newcastle United to Anfield on Thursday with both sides battling at different ends of the Premier League, but whenever the pair meet, a familiar game becomes the talking point from back in 1996.

With both Liverpool and Newcastle keeping chase with Manchester United for the Premier League title 25-years-ago, a 'classic' 4-3 encounter was played out at Anfield, with Stan Collymore grabbing the winning goal deep into injury time for the Reds.

Kevin Keegan was embarking on his first league title with Newcastle, but after surrendering a 10-point lead, the dramatic defeat to Liverpool set them well behind the pace, and they never recovered.

Back in 2003, the match was voted the Premier League game of the decade due to the drama of the seven-goal thriller, and it was even described as "kamikaze football" by Roy Evans, who was Liverpool manager at the time.

Following a fresh encounter at Anfield on Thursday, Mirror Football take a look back as the classic match that left Keegan heartbroken...

A look back at the match

Liverpool started brightly against Newcastle and led inside two minutes through Robbie Fowler, but they found themselves 2-1 down heading into half time as Keegan's Newcastle side fought back.

Fowler replied once more but Newcastle regained the lead on the hour mark, making the score 3-2 with 30 minutes to play, but an awful lot at stake for both sides.

The Liverpool pressure mounted, and Collymore fired his side level with an eerie 25 minutes still to play, and it made for a frantic grandstand finish at Anfield.

It was Collymore that made himself the hero, as he stuck a dagger into the hearts of Newcastle with the all important strike deep into injury time, making it a wonderful night for Liverpool but also for United, who went on to win the title.

Collymore's take on the game

Speaking to Mirror Football back in 2019, Collymore said: "It was a blistering game and as I walked off the pitch I knew I'd been involved in a classic.

"I recall both managers' post-match press conferences as well, with Roy and Kevin Keegan like, "Wow". "Wow", but with the caveat, "We can't take too many games like that because as managers they give you kittens".

"Keegan, remember, had slumped over the advertising hoardings as my winner had gone in. And never as a kid could I have dreamed that one of the iconic English football moments would see little Stan Collymore from Cannock intertwined with the great Kevin Keegan, the dominant football figure of my childhood.

"I've seen him a few times since and when I tapped him on a shoulder at a function a few years back, he turned round, rolled his eyes, laughed and said, "****ing hell!"

"I loved the way his teams played football and the same could be said of Roy's. Both would still want them to play the same brand now and that's to their credit.

"Some teams have won the title playing really boring football over the past 30 or 40 years."

Heartbroken but classy Keegan

Keegan was dejected with the result, but as with anyone who was lucky enough to be in the ground that night, you couldn't help but reflect with sheer delight on the match that had just been witnessed.

With Newcastle's title hopes in the balance, Keegan put on a brave face and said following the full-time whistle: "Disappointed, but we lost nothing in defeat here today.

"Whatever they charge here, I don't think people will be sending their tickets back saying they want a refund! A lot of energy and some great goals in a terrific atmosphere at a great stadium.

"It was a classic. It would have been much nicer to stand here talking about a 4-3 win, and it could so easily have been that result."

"Kamikaze football" - Roy Evans

Having experienced an emotional roller-coaster from the dugout, Roy Evans was fortunately on the winning side as Liverpool all but guaranteed their spot in the top four, while giving them a late chance at title success.

Evans was delighted at the final whistle, but joked as he claimed that the game nearly finished both him and Keegan off: "It's kamikaze football really. Great for the fans, but it could have killed me and Kevin off.

"It was great that both teams were so desperate for the win to stay in the championship race. It was great enjoyment for the fans, which is always important, and they were brilliant tonight.

"We've gone behind, we've gone ahead, they've lost it late on. It's mad, isn't it?"

Unplayable Steve McManaman

It may have been Collymore that rightfully stole the headlines, but Steve McMana,an produced one of the finest displays the Premier League has ever seen, and was named as the overwhelming man of the match for his performance on the night.

In what was a wonderful year for McManaman, he showed his class yet again for Liverpool just days after helping them progress to the FA Cup final, creating the most chances, completing the most passes in the opposition half of any player, and the second-highest number of dribbles.

McManaman's performances led to reports that United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was 'terrified' of the Liverpool midfielder, as Peter Schmeichel revealed in his autobiography that he contemplated man marking him out of the game.

Schmeichel also admitted that McManaman made Ferguson 'sweat', and that if the midfielder was allowed to ever have a good game, Liverpool would win.