Manchester United consolidated fourth place with a dramatic 1-0 win at St James' Park.
After being wasteful for most of the game, the visitor finally found the net in the 89th minute, as Young pounced on a huge error by Tim Krul, meaning United is in the driving seat for fourth in the Premier League.
However, Newcastle should have been given the opportunity to take an early lead when Chris Smalling clumsily brought down Emmanuel Riviere, who caused the away side problems, but referee Anthony Taylor ignored shouts for a penalty.
United dictated proceedings for long periods before the break, although the first half was marred by an incident that seemed to show Jonny Evans and Papiss Cisse spitting at each other.
The second half produced a far more positive talking point, however, when Jonas Gutierrez made his long-awaited return from cancer, as Newcastle caretaker manager John Carver looked to counter the visitor's dominance with work rate.
But the match ultimately ended in disappointment for Newcastle, as Young steered home from close range just before the finish, giving United all three points in trademark fashion.
Daniel Sturridge celebrated his return to Liverpool's starting line-up with a goal in a routine 2-0 home win over Burnley that saw Brendan Rodgers' side climb to fifth.
The England striker has battled thigh and calf issues throughout the season but after a series of recent involvements in cup competitions, the Liverpool boss declared Sturridge was ready to be a regular part of his Premier League first-team again.
And he showed no signs of sluggishness in an excellent performance at Anfield, doubling Liverpool's lead early in the second half after stand-in captain Jordan Henderson had fired it in front in the 29th minute.
Henderson - who scored for the second Premier League game in a row - pulled the strings in a dominant midfield performance and also provided the cross for Sturridge's header.
The win comes on the back of Liverpool's 2-1 success against champion Manchester City and extends its unbeaten league run to 12 matches. Burnley, meanwhile, continues to sit 19th as its relegation fears increase.
Chelsea tasted Wembley joy at the weekend and Eden Hazard's first-half strike proved enough to cap a winning return to league action with a 1-0 victory over West Ham - keeping Jose Mourinho's side staying five points ahead of Manchester City.
Mourinho memorably complained of West Ham playing '19th century football' in last season's corresponding fixture that saw Chelsea waste numerous chances in a 0-0 draw.
However, his side found a way through this time around and led 1-0 at the break thanks to Hazard's close-range header, although West Ham should have been level before the interval with Diafra Sakho nodding straight at Thibaut Courtois.
Hazard impressed throughout and twice in the second half he laid on great chances for Ramires, who was denied a goal by the frame of the post and a fine stop from Adrian.
The result increases the pressure on West Ham boss Sam Allardyce, who saw his side's winless run in the league stretched to six matches, leaving it 10th.
A far-from-convincing Manchester City kept tits faint Premier League title hopes alive with a 2-0 home win against Leicester City.
David Silva broke the visitor's resistance in first-half stoppage time before James Milner came off the bench to wrap up the points late on and ensure the champion bounced back from Monday's (AEDT) defeat at Liverpool.
It could have been very different had referee Robert Madley looked differently upon challenges by Wilfried Bony and Fernando in each half, which could easily have resulted in penalty kicks.
Riyad Mahrez hit the post late on, while the host spurned a string of late chances before Milner's effort secured the spoils while Leicester remains rooted to the foot of the table, seven points from safety.
Arsenal maintained its challenge for third place with a 2-1 victory over QPR at Loftus Road.
Second-half goals from Olivier Giroud and Alexis Sanchez secured all three points for Arsene Wenger's side, although it was denied the chance to extend its gap over Manchester United when Louis van Gaal's side scored late on to beat Newcastle.
Charlie Austin wasted three clear chances in the opening 45 minutes for QPR as it restricted the visitor well with tight marking and a high tempo.
As a result, Arsenal initially offered little going forward, but after half-time words from Wenger, it finally found more in the second period.
Mesut Ozil wasted a fine chance before Giroud finally beat Rob Green from close range to open the scoring, and then Alexis sealed the win with 21 minutes left.
Austin got the goal his performance deserved with eight minutes remaining to give QPR brief hope, but it was in vain.
The result leaves QPR three points from safety, mired in the Premier League's relegation zone.
Tottenham Hotspur got its top-four tilt back on track by overcoming Swansea City 3-2 on a night when Bafetimbi Gomis's collapse had those inside White Hart Lane fearing the worst.
As play was about to restart after Nacer Chadli's wonderful, early opener, paramedics and medical staff raced onto the field to tend to the French striker after he went down.
Hush fell on the ground where Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba suffered a cardiac arrest three years ago, but good news emanated from the Swansea dressing room that Gomis was fine and had not been hospitalised after fainting.
Garry Monk's side will have unlikely been aware of the positive news when Ki Sung-Yueng drew parity in a match which Spurs would go onto win, with second-half strikes from Ryan Mason and Andros Townsend securing the result after Gylfi Sigurdsson's late strike.
Everton endured further misery as goals from Victor Moses and Mame Biram Diouf condemned it to a 2-0 defeat at Stoke.
Moses headed home superbly in the 32nd minute before Diouf slotted in on the rebound six minutes from time after fellow substitute Marko Arnautovic hit the post to steer the Potters to a third straight win.
