Newcastle United paid the price for Alexander Isak’s absence as they failed to make the most of an impressive first-half showing against Liverpool, falling behind to a Ryan Gravenberch goal before Anthony Gordon’s red card deepened their worries up front.
The Magpies’ clash with Liverpool, whom they beat in the EFL Cup final last season, kicked off against the backdrop of the Isak saga, with Newcastle’s talisman refusing to train or play in a bid to force through a move to the Premier League champions.
That made for a raucous atmosphere at St James’ Park, where Newcastle were in control for long periods, Gordon wasting their best chance in the 28th minute when he headed over from Harvey Barnes’ left-wing cross.
Gravenberch punished that profligacy seven minutes later, Liverpool’s returning midfielder silencing the home crowd by firing in off the left-hand post from the edge of the area.
Yet the home fans were brought to life again just before half-time, albeit in fury as false nine Gordon was shown red by Simon Hooper for a rash challenge on Virgil Van Dijk.
Hooper had originally shown Gordon a yellow card. However, after a pitchside review, he ruled that Gordon’s contact with Van Dijk’s Achilles represented serious foul play, and he upgraded the sanction to a straight red, leaving Newcastle with a mountain to climb to get anything from the game and with a significant issue in the central striking role that was already a huge problem because of Isak’s self-enforced absence.
