LONDON, Feb 29: Newcastle United missed the chance to strengthen their grip on fourth place in the English premier league on Sunday when they were held 1-1 at relegation-threatened Portsmouth.

With Liverpool, one of Newcastle's main rivals for the final Champions League spot, drawing 2-2 at bottom club Leeds earlier, Newcastle seemed on course to widen the gap after Craig Bellamy's 34th-minute effort.

But Lomana LuaLua, who is on loan to Portsmouth from Newcastle, pounced in the 89th minute to volley an equaliser and secure a precious point for the south coast club to lift them out of the relegation zone.

Newcastle remain in fourth place on 42 points, 16 behind third-placed Manchester United but two ahead of Charlton Athletic and three more than Liverpool.

Harry Kewell put Liverpool in front against his old club in a thrilling draw at Elland Road after 21 minutes. Goals from Eirik Bakke and Mark Viduka turned the game on its head before Czech striker Milan Baros equalised shortly before the end of a pulsating first half.

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