Jürgen Klopp and Liverpool had the last laugh Wednesday at Anfield with a 90+8' match winner from 20-year-old summer signing Fábio Carvalho after Newcastle had employed a bit of the dark arts to keep things at 1-1 for the game's final 30 minutes.
It became clear very early on that Newcastle manager Eddie Howe had the perfect setup for foiling Liverpool's wide attack with Kieran Trippier again demonstrating he's world class and the hugely underrated Matt Targett pocketing Mohamed Salah on the left. The wingers — Ryan Fraser and Miguel Almirón — were also really only out there to fulfill their defensive responsibilities, while Joelinton and Sean Longstaff discarded craft for hustle in the midfield.
There was a question of how Newcastle could possibly threaten at Anfield, but a horrendously struck cross-field switch by Trent Alexander-Arnold put the visitors in an advantageous position, and $77 million signing Alexander Isak — who'd just received his work permit hours earlier — punished the Reds in the 38th minute.
Alexander Isak is here!
He scores on his debut and Newcastle take the lead an Anfield. #NUFC; @USA_Network & @NBCUniverso #LIVNEW pic.twitter.com/JEiuo9po9a
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) August 31, 2022
This, of course, is when Newcastle keeper Nick Pope began taking his sweet time with every goal kick and Joelinton began feeling the strain of chasing the brilliant Harvey Elliott around the pitch. I think Joelinton completed five successful tackles and three successful cramps.
It was Elliott who got Liverpool's equalizing goal moving in the 61st minute, and it finished with Salah sliding it into the path of the advancing Roberto Firmino.
Firmino with the equalizer!
Liverpool and Newcastle United are level at 1-1. #LFC
: @USA_Network & @NBCUniverso #LIVNEW pic.twitter.com/O11s4UMRkl— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) August 31, 2022
We reached the pantomime villain stage with Newcastle players desperately trying to hold onto the point. Klopp was comically irate on the touchline and Anfield was feeding off the energy, but it certainly felt like a draw as we advanced beyond the five minutes of added time.
However, play continued with Liverpool threatening, and a corner kick delivered with 97:05 on the clock wasn't dealt with by Newcastle (Joe Willock), and Carvalho ripped a finish on the volley.
The Newcastle and Liverpool benches briefly went after it with Klopp offering an ironical smile. Live by wasting time through injury, die by injury time.
FABIO CARVALHO WINS IT FOR LIVERPOOL IN THE 98'! #LFC | #LIVNEW pic.twitter.com/mbxAtIvqHj
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) August 31, 2022
"I think that we scored up in 90 plus eight (minutes) is the perfect response to that to be honest. And I'm really happy about that," Klopp said.
Newcastle's "Invincibles" dream is over. Liverpool's climbed back to fifth after its slow start.
