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Ciaran Kelly

Newcastle staff held back, Alexander Isak glimpse and Joelinton angers Liverpool - 5 things

Newcastle United were denied a point at Anfield after Fabio Carvalho struck a late winner to give Liverpool a 2-1 victory against the Magpies.

Debutant Alexander Isak gave Newcastle the lead in the 38th minute with a fine finish, but Roberto Firmino equalised after the hour mark before Carvalho won it at the death with a volley.

Here are five things we learned from the game.

READ MORE: Liverpool vs Newcastle United

Controversial winner leaves Newcastle fuming

The clock read 97:08 when substitute Fabio Carvalho won the game for Liverpool - long after the five minutes of allotted stoppage time were up. Yes, tired Newcastle ran down the clock and the Magpies should have defended Mo Salah's corner better - failing to clear their lines on three occasions before Carvalho volleyed home - but you could understand why the visiting bench were furious. First-team coach Simon Weatherstone and unused substitute Fabian Schar even had to be held back as Liverpool's staff celebrated wildly.

Newcastle players and staff were bizarrely booed off the field at full-time by Liverpool supporters, which, perhaps, was the ultimate compliment: the Magpies had unsettled and pushed the hosts mightily close.

Fearless approach almost pays off

If a trip to Wolves was a test, without Bruno Guimaraes, Jonjo Shelvey and Callum Wilson, well, facing a Liverpool side at Anfield who hammered Bournemouth 9-0 last time out was an almighty challenge - particularly after Newcastle star Allan Saint-Maximin was also ruled out with a hamstring injury. You had to go back to 1994 for the last time Newcastle won a Premier League game at Liverpool, when Alexander Isak, Joelinton, Joe Willock, Sean Longstaff, Matt Targett were not even born, but Howe has long challenged his side to create their own history.

Rather than obsessing over those who were absent, as some Newcastle managers have in the past, or worrying too much about the might of Liverpool, Howe urged his side to play with 'no fear'. As Joe Willock put it: "We are so motivated to go there and win and die for the badge."

Newcastle could take hope from how Fulham and Crystal Palace grabbed a point off Liverpool earlier this month while Manchester United defeated Jurgen Klopp's side, who were also hit by a host of injuries and the Magpies executed their game plan for large spells on Wednesday night.

Yes, Isak's goal helped, but Newcastle had previously taken the lead at Anfield even earlier in 2019 and 2021. However, this time, the Magpies were not pegged back quite so quickly as they frustrated Liverpool and disrupted the hosts' rhythm. Although Firmino did equalise in the 61st minute, and Carvalho won it at the death, that should take nothing away from Newcastle's valiant performance.

Alexander Isak has a debut to remember

Eddie Howe traditionally eases in new signings from abroad, but Alexander Isak was thrown in from the start on Wednesday night - just hours after being granted a work permit. Perhaps, that is a reflection of how well the record signing has already settled in. following his big-money move from Real Sociedad last week. Indeed, Joe Willock said Isak had 'showed a lot of quality in the small amount of sessions he's had', with his finishing and ability to link play. That was soon evident at Anfield.

There were 38 minutes on the clock when Sean Longstaff poked the ball through to Isak and the Sweden international lashed the ball into the top corner to silence Anfield. Well, aside from the 3,000 delirious Geordies in the away end, that is, as Isak raced over to celebrate with them.

That is what £58m buys you. In a game like this, against a team like this, Newcastle had to take their chances and the composed Isak did just that with the visitors' first shot on target.

It was a glimpse of what is to come. As the injured Bruno Guimaraes tweeted from home: 'What a pass from Sean Longstaff! What a goal from isak! This is football!! So proud.'

Howe felt Isak had the athleticism, technical ability and X-factor to thrive in the Premier League and, based on Wednesday night, the 22-year-old will bring a lot to Newcastle.

Newcastle get under Jurgen Klopp's skin

The last time Newcastle rocked up at Anfield, the Magpies took the lead in the seventh minute, but, however competitive Eddie Howe's side were, the leaky visitors never looked like winning the game. Liverpool duly triumphed 3-1 on the night and Jurgen Klopp's side had 74% possession, 23 shots and 11 corners all told.

Much has changed since that night in December, of course, and you only had to look at Newcastle's backline to realise that. Martin Dubravka, Jamal Lewis, Fabian Schar and Javier Manquillo- all dropped out; in came Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier, Dan Burn and Matt Targett with recalled skipper Jamaal Lascelles the sole survivor after Fabian Schar and Sven Botman were rested. Even on a night where Newcastle were missing their best attackers, that rear-guard gave the visitors half a chance of at least frustrating Liverpool.

You felt the key was surviving the opening stages in the Anfield cauldron - Bournemouth were 2-0 down after just six minutes last week - and Newcastle previously showed against champions Man City that the black-and-whites could go toe-to-toe with the very best. This was a different sort of game, but Newcastle showed the other side of their game out of possession that is so effective and it got under Jurgen Klopp's skin. At one point in the first half, the furious Liverpool boss raged at a meaty challenge from Joelinton on Harvey Elliott.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp (left) and Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe (PA)

Rio Ferdinand gets quite the welcome

BT Sport's cameras were positioned right in front of the away end before kick-off, which was good for Shay Given, but not so great for fellow pundit Rio Ferdinand. The former Manchester United skipper was quickly 'serenaded' with a chant of: 'Rio is a w-----!' before Newcastle supporters sang: 'There's only one Shay Given!'

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