Newcastle skipper Alan Shearer smashed home his 14th goal of the season from the penalty spot to deny Liverpool victory at St James' Park.
Shearer struck on 62 minutes after Laurent Robert had been tripped by Chris Kirkland to cancel out Danny Murphy's sixth-minute opener on an afternoon when the Magpies had to be content with a point despite creating a host of chances.
John Arne Riise and Danny Murphy both cleared off the line in a frantic finish to the game, although Florent Sinama-Pongolle, Steven Gerrard and, six minutes from time, former United midfielder Dietmar Hamann all forced excellent saves from Shay Given.
An expectant crowd of 52,151 arrived knowing that the result could have a major say in the race for Champions League qualification at the end of the season, and the late save Kirkland pulled off to keep out Shearer's potential match-winner could yet prove invaluable.
Without the injured Michael Owen and Harry Kewell, Gerard Houllier's attacking options were limited, and his intentions were clear from the off when he lined up with Sinama-Pongolle playing as a lone striker and Emile Heskey helping out in a five-man midfield.
It was a system designed to stop goals at one end rather than score them at the other but, if that lulled Newcastle into a false sense of security, they were soon shaken out of it.
With six minutes on the clock, Jonathan Woodgate jumped to head Riise's long ball clear, only to collide with Titus Bramble and Sinama-Pongolle.
The ball ran free and straight into the path of Murphy, who gleefully toe-poked it past Given to open the scoring.
Given was not to see much more action for the remainder of the first half as Newcastle dominated and the visitors soaked up the pressure.
But for all their possession, United rarely threatened to equalise as Sami Hyypia and Igor Biscan, admittedly aided by a series of odd decisions by referee Graham Poll, managed to keep them at bay.
They troubled Kirkland on only two occasions, the keeper coming from his line to block Gary Speed's shot from a tight angle on 23 minutes and then getting his legs to Shola Ameobi's effort after Kieron Dyer had sent him free six minutes before the break.
The Magpies hammered away at the Merseysiders throughout, but found space tight in central midfield as Gerrard and Hamann fought out a battle with Speed and Jermaine Jenas.
Given was called upon to make twice as many saves as he had done in the first half inside seconds after 50 minutes when first Sinama-Pongolle tested him with a left-footed strike and then crossed for Gerrard to volley in another from the rebound.
But with Nolberto Solano having replaced Aaron Hughes at the break, the home side had a more dangerous look about them, although their frustration continued in the early part of the half.
Ameobi wasted a good opportunity when he tried to turn Biscan once more than was necessary after Dyer had played him in and Robert smashed a 59th-minute free-kick inches wide.
But salvation was at hand and it came, as so often in the past, in the shape of Shearer, albeit with a helping hand from Robert.
The Frenchman's run into the box was expertly picked out by Dyer and Kirkland tripped him as he attempted to round him, leaving referee Poll little option but to point to the spot.
Shearer, who saw his last penalty saved by Aston Villa's Thomas Sorensen, did not shirk the responsibility and thumped the ball in off the underside of the crossbar to level.
Jenas passed up a chance to make a name for himself on 66 minutes when he miskicked in front of goal, but the Liverpool defence was creaking and it seemed only a matter of time before the Magpies got their noses in front.
Riise headed a Dyer shot off the line and Murphy scrambled away a Bramble effort as Robson's men attacked in waves.
However, they were almost caught on 75 minutes when Vladimir Smicer, a 52nd-minute replacement for Sinama-Pongolle, robbed Bramble wide on the right and cut inside, although his hopeful effort flew across the face of goal.
Given pulled off a stunning save to keep out Hamann's dipping volley six minutes from time, but Kirkland matched him at the other end a minute later to tip Shearer's drive over and then Woodgate fired wide in injury-time as a pulsating encounter drew to a close