Liverpool 4-3 Newcastle: The Premier League’s Greatest Game, 1996
Often voted the best match of the Premier League era, this was the night Kevin Keegan’s entertaining Newcastle side lost a title race in the most dramatic way possible.
Official highlights from the Premier League YouTube channel. Press play, then use the full-screen button in the bottom-right corner of the player. Watch on YouTube
Match facts
| Competition | Premier League |
|---|---|
| Date | 3 April 1996 |
| Venue | Anfield, Liverpool |
| Result | Liverpool 4-3 Newcastle United |
The story of the match
Robbie Fowler headed Liverpool ahead in the second minute. Les Ferdinand and David Ginola scored to put Newcastle 2-1 up inside a quarter of an hour. After the break Fowler made it 2-2, and Faustino Asprilla immediately restored Newcastle’s lead.
Stan Collymore equalised again, and in stoppage time he hit the winner at the far post. The picture of Keegan slumped over the advertising boards in front of the dugout became one of the most famous images in English football.
Key moments to watch for
- Fowler’s header in the second minute
- Ferdinand and Ginola turn it round
- Asprilla restores the lead
- Collymore’s stoppage-time winner
- Keegan slumped over the hoardings
Why it’s one of the greatest football matches ever
Newcastle had been 12 points clear at the top earlier in the season. This defeat was a turning point, and Manchester United won the title. The match was voted the Premier League’s game of the decade.
More classic football matches
- Real Madrid 2-6 Barcelona: Guardiola’s Barça at the Bernabéu, 2009
- Real Madrid 3-1 Man City: Rodrygo’s Late Double, 2022 Champions League
- Ajax 2-3 Tottenham: Lucas Moura’s Hat-Trick, 2019 Champions League
See all 40 on our list of the greatest matches ever, or catch up on this season on the latest highlights page.
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