ALAN SHEARER and Robbie Fowler shared the honours in the battle of the forwards as Newcastle and Liverpool fought out a 1-1 draw at St James' Park last night.

Shearer fired Newcastle into a 28th-minute lead, pouncing for his 13th goal of the season after Les Ferdinand's header had been tipped on to the bar by David James.

But Fowler conjured up an equaliser on the stroke of halftime with his 19th of the campaign and Liverpool survived a second half onslaught from the Magpies to move three points clear at the top of the Premiership.

Liverpool almost stunned Newcastle straight from the kick off as a Fowler and Collymore combination ended with Fowler heading over Pavel Srnicek 30 yards out as the Czech goalkeeper challenged him.

The ball was heading towards the net but Darren Peacock raced back into his penalty area to hook clear and, in any case, the offside flag had been raised against Fowler.

Newcastle were unnerved and Liverpool dominated the opening five minutes but Peter Beardsley brought the Magpies to life in the 10th minute.

The Newcastle skipper's shrewd pass found Ferdinand unmarked eight yards out with his back to the goal but the England striker's shot on the turn lacked power and was aimed straight at Liverpool goalkeeper David James.

Mark Wright picked up a 28th minute booking for bringing down David Ginola two yards to the left of the Liverpool box and Newcastle took the lead from the Frenchman's resulting free kick.

Ferdinand climbed to power in a header which James managed to palm onto the crossbar but when the ball bounced down Shearer pounced to rifle the ball into the roof of the net and fire Newcastle ahead.

Liverpool's response was instant and McManaman fired into the side netting from a narrow angle after rounding Srnicek.

Fowler volleyed wide at the far post from McAteer's cross, Thomas shot straight at Srnicek from the edge of the box as Liverpool stepped up the pressure and Newcastle lost the limping Ginola in the 36th minute. Lee Clark replaced him and slotted into midfield with Steve Watson moving into a left wingback role.

Fowler squandered a wonderful opening two minutes from the break when he dragged his shot wide from close range after McManaman had headed down McAteer's cross but he made amends with an equaliser on the stroke of half time.

McManaman supplied the cross from the left byline and Fowler found enough space to steer a low shot wide of Srnicek.

James came to Liverpool's rescue three minutes into the second half, diving to his left to pull off a one handed save to deny Ferdinand after Shearer's pass had put his striking partner through on goal.

Newcastle were undeterred and they mounted a fierce and prolonged spell of pressure in which James was kept busy as the shots rained in on goal.

Beardsley fired a left foot effort narrowly wide, James tipped efforts from Shearer and Rob Lee behind for corners, and Albert's lob was just too high when James was out of position after losing out in an aerial challenge with Ferdinand.

Liverpool's defence was rocking but Newcastle's also looked vulnerable whenever the visitors broke with Fowler and McManaman always a danger.

Ruddock came to Liverpool's rescue cutting out Gillespie's cross from the left byline after the Northern Ireland winger had skipped past McAteer and the visitors had another escape in the 72nd minute when Thomas headed off the line to deny Watson, whose edge of the area effort had James beaten.

Liverpool were living dangerously and they breathed another sigh of relief when Beardsley's 74th minute left foot volley flashed across James and just wide of the far post.