Newcastle's hopes of claiming victory over summer rivals Liverpool are in tatters with Anthony Gordon getting sent off just before half-time.
In a Premier League clash dubbed the 'Alexander Isak derby' due to the long-running saga surrounding the striker's determination to force through a move to Liverpool, passions understandably ran high.
This reckless challenge by Gordon left Van Dijk in a heap
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This reckless challenge by Gordon left Van Dijk in a heapCredit: Sky Sports
And it also left the Magpies with ten men
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And it also left the Magpies with ten menCredit: Getty
But Gordon was guilty of being a little too enthusiastic in his attempts to win the ball as he scraped the back of Virgil van Dijk's right leg when sliding in.
Gordon won none of the ball and was given a yellow by referee Simon Hooper, however, VAR urged him to look at the incident again on his pitchside monitor.
And Hooper upgraded the yellow to a red, deeming the challenge on the Liverpool captain as serious foul play.
talkSPORT's Troy Deeney agrees that the decision was just about right but suggested that Van Dijk played his part in Gordon getting sent off.
"Virgil van Dijk has played a cute one as well," Deeney said live on talkSPORT.
"He went down two or three times to make sure that VAR had a look at it. You can't argue can you really? He's not in control of the pace, the tempo.
"I've been there as a striker as well. You want to get the fan base up you. He's gone from left back to left centre-half to the goalkeeper all the way up to Virgil and he's thought, 'I'm gonna leave a little bit on you here'.
"That lonely moment when you're in the in the door in the changing room on your own you start to think, 'oh my God what have I done?
everyone's going to be hating me now'.
"It's a long long uphill battle down for this Newcastle team but for Liverpool this is perfect."
At the time of the incident, Newcastle were already trailing 1-0 with a long-range strike by Ryan Gravenberch opening the scoring.
Deeney suggested Van Dijk's reaction ensured the tackle on him was reviewed
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Deeney suggested Van Dijk's reaction ensured the tackle on him was reviewedCredit: Getty
Although Gordon left his mark on the player
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Although Gordon left his mark on the playerCredit: Getty
He's not even playing but the tension has been added to this match because of Isak
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He's not even playing but the tension has been added to this match because of IsakCredit: Getty
And things got even worse less than 30 seconds after the start of the second half with Hugo Ekitike, who turned down a move to Newcastle to join Liverpool, firing the Reds' second from the edge of the box.
But Bruno Guimaraes restored some life into the Magpies by heading in with 57 minutes played to make it 2-1.
Defeat would see Newcastle lose ground in the Premier League table having opened their season with a draw at Aston Villa.
As for Liverpool, they began the league season by battling to a 4-2 victory over Bournemouth at Anfield.