By DAVID FACEY
STEVEN GERRARD was presented with a red Liver bird before kick-off to mark his 600th appearance — but from then on this match was all about Luis Suarez yet again.
Liverpool’s Uruguayan ace has to be the most talked-about player in the Premier League these days.
And whether you love him as the home fans do with an all-consuming passion, or loathe him for his desperate diving, you have to admit he is a special talent.
His goal to ensure Liverpool did not surrender an 18-year unbeaten record at Anfield to their favourite whipping boys was simply sensational.
There appeared to be no danger when Luis Enrique hoofed the ball upfield, especially with Suarez shadowed by both Fabricio Coloccini and Steven Taylor.
But he somehow managed to cushion the ball with his right shoulder, and steer it into his path in the same bewildering moment.
And he showed great strength and balance to shrug off Coloccini’s despairing challenge and take the ball around Tim Krul before tucking it into the net.
It was a great goal by a great player.
And there is no doubt that goal led to Coloccini’s sending-off for an X-rated lunge at Suarez six minutes from time.
It was a direct result of the frustration he felt at being given the run-around by the Liverpool man.
Thankfully, Coloccini made only minimal contact. But the intent to hurt an opponent — with his studs raised and aimed directly at Suarez’s calf — meant it was impossible to argue with Anthony Taylor’s decision to show a straight red.
Newcastle’s Argentine defender should actually have been celebrating a let-off as he brought Suarez down in the box with a clumsy challenge with less than three minutes on the clock.
Referee Taylor was well-placed but may have been influenced by the fact Suarez’s flick rebounded off the Newcastle player’s chest, suggesting he got the ball as well as his man when he dived in.
But it is more likely Taylor was reluctant to award Liverpool a penalty given their star striker’s habit of burying his face in the ground quicker than an agoraphobic ostrich.
It was another case of Suarez paying for his past misdemeanours — and that ultimately cost Liverpool all three points.
But they would probably have settled for a draw at half-time, when they trailed to another brilliant strike with Yohan Cabaye smashing home a 43rd-minute half-volley from a ridiculously tight angle.
Reds keeper Brad Jones should have got at least a finger to it. But Cabaye’s shot dipped so fiercely, it would have been difficult to keep out with both hands.
That goal had been on the cards for a while, as Liverpool seemed to run out of ideas and self-belief after a bright start, allowing their opponents to take charge.
For all their early huffing and puffing, the home side managed only one attempt on goal — from Suarez, of course.
Krul did well to keep out his low drive with an outstretched leg and Colocinni and Taylor made brave blocks to stifle shots from Gerrard and Raheem Sterling.
But Newcastle began to take charge as the interval beckoned, and Demba Ba’s rising shot and a curling strike from Hatem Ben Arfa both spelled danger.
Suarez really began to turn it on after the break, and if Sterling and substitute Jonjo Shelvey had connected properly with the chances he created Gerrard could still have had a day to savour.
Instead this game finished the same way as so many of those previous 599 — with the Liverpool skipper shaking his head, battling a combination of frustration and deep disappointment.
There have been notable exceptions of course, with Liverpool’s Champions League triumph in 2005 the stand-out.
But memorable victories like that have been few and far between of late.
Gerrard was not at his best here. He tried almost too hard to make up for the shortcomings of the less-than-inspiring team he now finds himself leading, and his dead-ball delivery lacked its usual accuracy and menace.
Yet history suggested he could not have hand-picked more suitable opposition for this landmark occasion.
As well as failing to win at Anfield in 18 attempts — make that 19 now — since 1994, the Toon Army have played the part of valiant losers in some classic tussles.
Who could ever forget the 4-3 home victories in 1996 and 1997, victories now etched in Kop folklore?
Sadly this one never threatened to scale the same heights, although Suarez — who else? — almost provided an unforgettable climax when he stood over a free-kick three minutes into stoppage-time.
His hoisted ball was missed by Shelvey, but it took a crazy bounce and looked destined to find the roof of the net until Krul clawed it away at the last moment.
And when the dust settles Liverpool will reflect on another two points frittered away at Anfield, in a year that has seen them win just three of their 15 home matches in the Premier League.
Let’s hope Gerrard’s next century proves bit more rewarding.
