If you think back to some of the biggest games in Premier League history, or even some of FootyRecall’s Reflections, a lot of them are remembered for one goal or one moment. This game is different. It is one that people still bring up when describing the Premier League and what it means.

The entire match was absolute chaos from start to finish. Newcastle were chasing the Premier League title under Kevin Keegan, while Liverpool still had their own outside hopes. For 90 minutes at Anfield, two of the most attacking teams in the league decided to go at each other.

Inside two minutes, Liverpool took the lead. After 14 minutes, Newcastle were winning. Then Liverpool came back. Then Newcastle did it again. It finished Liverpool 4–3 Newcastle, with a stoppage-time winner and one of the most famous images of the early Premier League era.

Two Minutes

Liverpool started the game quickly and were leading inside two minutes. Stan Collymore worked the ball into the box and Robbie Fowler headed Liverpool ahead. Liverpool 1–0 Newcastle.

The build-up to this game for Newcastle would have been huge. They were chasing the title, so going behind that early could easily have knocked them. Instead, they seemed to take it in their stride and immediately fought back.

Newcastle Respond Immediately

Eight minutes later, Faustino Asprilla created the opening and Les Ferdinand finished. 1–1. Then Newcastle went again. Ferdinand released David Ginola, who raced through and finished past David James. Liverpool 1–2 Newcastle.

Fourteen minutes had been played and there had already been three goals. The game was end-to-end and fantastic to watch. Usually matches take ten minutes or so to really get going, but this one started quickly and showed no sign of slowing down.

That suited Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle. They had built their reputation on attacking football. Score goals, entertain and worry about defending afterwards. That had worked plenty of times. Tonight ended differently.

Fowler Levels It

Liverpool came out after half-time looking for the equaliser. In the 55th minute, Steve McManaman found Fowler and he finished again. 2–2. Anfield was alive and, after chasing the game, Liverpool were finally level.

For about two minutes.

Newcastle immediately went down the other end. Rob Lee released Faustino Asprilla and the Colombian produced one of the best finishes of the night, bending the ball past David James. Liverpool 2–3 Newcastle.

Liverpool had barely finished celebrating their equaliser before they were behind again. That is what made the game so great to watch from a neutral perspective. It was end-to-end and the battle seemed to get more intense as it went on. Neither team ever had real control. It felt like they were simply trying to outscore each other.

Collymore Gets Involved

With just over 20 minutes remaining, Jason McAteer got down the right and fired the ball across the area. Collymore arrived at the back post. 3–3.

At that point, you might expect both teams to calm down. But that was never going to happen here. The game continued at the same pace. Both teams were creating chances at either end and either side could easily have won it. They both wanted the winner.

Keegan was not interested in settling for a point, and his team played exactly like that.

Collymore Closing In

The match moved into stoppage time. John Barnes and Ian Rush combined around the edge of the Newcastle box before the ball found its way out to Collymore on the left. He hit it first time. Pavel Srníček could not stop it.

Liverpool 4–3 Newcastle.

Collymore ran towards the Kop. The sight of Newcastle players falling to the floor was astonishing. Complete shock. Kevin Keegan ended up slumped over the advertising boards beside the dugout, an image that became one of the defining moments of that Premier League season.

The Goal Timeline

Newcastle Could Not Stop Attacking

Looking back, this game probably sums up Keegan’s Newcastle better than almost any other. Even at 3–3 away at Anfield, they wanted to win.

They were such an entertaining side to watch. For a neutral, they were a dream. For a Newcastle fan, it must have been nerve-racking at times. They could attack for fun, but they could also be opened up. Liverpool did exactly that, and eventually the chance fell to Collymore.

More Than Just Seven Goals

The game mattered because Newcastle were fighting Manchester United for the title. This defeat was another huge blow. United eventually won the league, while Newcastle were left looking back at a season where a commanding position had disappeared.

But the title race is not really why people still talk about this match. They remember it because it looked like everything people wanted the Premier League to be.

The Game That Defined the Premier League

Liverpool 4–3 Newcastle. Seven goals. The lead flipping throughout the game. Fowler scoring twice. Collymore scoring twice. And, of course, a stoppage-time winner.

Thirty years later, it is still regularly brought up whenever people start debating the greatest Premier League matches. There might have been games with bigger consequences since, or maybe games with more quality.

But when it comes to capturing the true madness of the Premier League, I’m not sure many games have done it better.