Michael Owen was left 'astonished' that Liverpool forward Sadio Mane didn't go down and try to win a penalty when Newcastle goalkeeper Karl Darlow appeared to hold him by the leg in Wednesday night's draw.
The Premier League leaders dropped two points at St James' Park, largely because of an outstanding display by Darlow.
But the Newcastle stopper was fortunate referee Paul Tierney didn't award Liverpool a penalty 10 minutes from time when he grabbed Mane just as he seemed certain to score from just a few yards out.
That allowed defender Fabian Schar to get back and clear the ball off the line, ensuring Newcastle would take an unexpected point against the reigning champions.
But former Liverpool and Newcastle forward Owen, a pundit for Amazon Prime, was left stunned that Mane didn't go to ground and try to win a crucial penalty for his team.
Owen said: 'I'm astonished that Mane didn't shout and ask the referee why it's not a penalty and I'm surprised he didn't go down because he's quite clearly grabbed by both arms.
'One certainly touches and the other grabs him. It's open to debate whether he would have tapped it in without getting grabbed there, possibly not.
'But whatever the situation you can't grab someone's legs and he's quite clearly grabbed his right leg there and prevents him from swinging it.
'As a centre forward what most players try to do is make it more obvious to the referee which is why we were surprised he didn't go down.
'We should applaud honesty as well, we see so many times this season players going down when there's hardly been any touch or no touch at all, so I think we should applaud it.
'But I'm sure Jurgen Klopp would be thinking tonight if he went down, he can't come out and say it, but I'm sure he's thinking if he went down we would have won a penalty there.
'It just goes to show it's virtually impossible for a referee to give a penalty unless you do down. I've said it once and I'll say it again, referees don't mind, in fact they prefer, if you go down and it gives them a decision to make.
'In that instance everyone can say what they like, 'oh yes, it should have been a penalty' but no referee will give that.
'So it's almost better for a referee if you go down, give them a decision to make.'
The goalless draw means Liverpool end 2020 sitting three points clear at the top of the Premier League but second-placed Manchester United have a game in hand.
Liverpool are next in action when they visit Southampton on Monday evening.