A night of deep damage for [Newcastle United](http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/football/newcastle), who lost Anthony Gordon to a red card, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton to injuries and the game to Liverpool when 16-year-old substitute Rio Nhumoha scored a 100th minute to break home hearts after the most unlikely and incredible comeback.
First it looked like a night that centred around a missing striker would end up being all about the replacement rather than the absentee.
And then, the central figure in this soap opera played out on a football pitch looked not to be Alexander Isak. And not Anthony Gordon, the makeshift replacement, who was sent off on the stroke of half-time.
Instead, it looked like being Will Osula, the forgotten man who didn’t make a single Premier League start last season but emerged from the bench and looked to have written his name into the history books of this quite ridiculous fixture
Newcastle were a man down and a goal down at half-time after Gordon’s dismissal for his lunge on Virgil van Dijk and Ryan Gravenberch’s opener 10 minutes earlier.
And when long-time Newcastle target Hugo Ekitike doubled the champions’ lead just 20 seconds after the restart, you feared the worst for the Magpies.
But on a night that started with a message of unity from Wor Flags and a banner that read “nothing is achieved alone”, United without their sulking star, were united. Bruno led the way and the charge. He gave Newcastle hope with a backpost header before Osula, thrown on in hope late on, gambled with an instinctive run and poked home the leveller two minutes from time.
It looked like Newcastle were the more likely victors, only for Nhumoha to strike 10 minutes into stoppage time.
Even in defeat, there’ll be pride for Howe, who was met on the pitch at full-time by chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan, who’d jetted in for the game.
"Beaten on the night but we hold our heads high. We are United," Newcastle's official account posted on X 10 minutes after full-time.
But once the dust settles, Howe will have to pick up the pieces. No Isak and what happens next? No Gordon for the next three games. Worrying looking injuries to two midfield stars and just one point out of six.
Strikers are needed but the clock is ticking. Wolves will no doubt be braced for a swift second phone call and offer for Jorgen Strand Larsen.
Gordon warned Liverpool in advance the atmosphere at St James’ Park on Monday night would be “wild”. It was. But so too was the forward’s lunge on van Dijk in first half stoppage time. It was that, rather than Ryan Gravenberch’s opener against the run of play 10 minutes earlier, which effectively ensured the Premier League champions were the side to emerge from this grudge match with three points.
Who, though, will emerge with Alexander Isak? “Hand him over,” chanted the Liverpool fans early in the second half.
Howe insisted last week Newcastle’s players would welcome Isak back into the dressing room, but immediately after the striker’s bombshell statement, Bruno shared a picture on his own Instagram of himself wearing the black and white of Newcastle in front of a giant club crest.
And while Howe unsurprisingly stayed away from the subject in his programme notes on Monday night, Bruno opened his by referencing “outside noise”, before writing: “It’s the noise our fans create tonight that’s going to make the difference…I think the atmosphere could be up there with that famous PSG match and Arsenal in the cup.”
The home fans didn’t need any urging from the skipper.
They were waiting and roaring their displeasure when Liverpool’s coach arrived at St James’ Park. And so deafening were the jeers, it was impossible to hear the names of the players who’d been selected by Arne Slot when the teams were read out at kick-off. Etikike soon discovered what the Newcastle fans made of his decision to move to Merseyside rather than Tyneside this summer. Fabian Schar’s heavy early tackle was greeted like a goal.
If the atmosphere was red hot in the stands, imagine, on the flip side, how cold it must have been in the boardroom. Howe has wisely stayed away from commenting on the “conduct” of other clubs, but Newcastle have been angered by Liverpool’s pursuit of Isak this summer. Al-Rumayyan jetted in for the game.
Newcastle were bang up for it. They won a corner after just 49 seconds and should have led after quarter of an hour when Anthony Elanga, on his home debut, got behind the defence and teased in a cross that only needed a touch. If only there was a striker on the pitch who could have instinctively anticipated what was coming.
Liverpool were rattled and conceded seven fouls in the opening 20 minutes. Gordon headed Barnes’ cross onto the roof of the net then bundled Elanga’s cross into the grateful arms of Alisson.
Salah was a spectator early on, Ekitike bullied. “You’re just a s\*\*t Will Osula,” the home fans sang. Osula is currently the last man standing at Newcastle.
Liverpool had one touch in Newcastle’s box in the opening half an hour. But from nothing, from nowhere, scored the opener. A poor throw from Kieran Trippier, a couple of yards of space for Gravenberch and a low drive from 20 yards into the bottom right corner of the unmoved Nick Pope.
Newcastle’s intensity didn’t drop but Gordon was too game and too keen. There was no malicious intent in his lunge on van Dijk but it was out of control and it was a red card.
Newcastle suddenly didn’t even have a makeshift striker on the pitch, and to rub salt into the gaping wound it was Ekitike, of course, who scored Liverpool’s second just 20 seconds after the restart, before Slot had even re-emerged from the dressing room.
Bruno gave Newcastle hope. Osula looked to have rescued a point. But it was Liverpool who had the last laugh. Who'll be the happier of the sides next Tuesday morning?