Newcastle found themselves in the center of Premier League theatre once again, and this time the spotlight wasn’t only on the scoreboard. The clash with Liverpool had all the ingredients of a footballing soap opera: a missing star striker in Alexander Isak, a boiling home crowd waving banners that practically screamed “war,” and a 16-year-old debutant rewriting history with one swing of his boot. Forget tactical masterclasses—this was pure chaos served hot on Tyneside.
Newcastle Collapse but Not Quietly
For about an hour, Newcastle played like a team trying to bottle lightning with their bare hands. Down to ten men after Anthony Gordon’s reckless lunge, they still clawed their way back to 2-2 with Bruno Guimaraes and Will Osula leading the charge. The roar inside St James’ Park could have powered half the city’s streetlights. And then, in the 100th minute, Rio Ngumoha, barely old enough to buy a scratch card, shattered the Geordie dreams. That’s the kind of moment where you just mutter, “football, bloody hell,” and go find a pint.
Newcastle and the Isak Problem
The shadow over all this is Alexander Isak, the striker who wasn’t even in the stadium but whose name lingered like storm clouds over the Tyne. Liverpool’s public flirtation, lowball bids, and Newcastle’s stubborn £150m valuation turned this into a saga worthy of late-night soap reruns. Howe can’t sell him—especially now Gordon faces suspension—but he also can’t keep him sulking. Newcastle need closure, or every game will feel like a custody battle.
Author’s Opinion: United Need to Chill
Let’s be honest: Newcastle’s fire is entertaining, but sometimes it feels like they’re trying to fight a forest fire with petrol. The hostility toward Ekitike, the fury over Isak, the reckless tackles—it’s theatre, yes, but it’s not exactly conducive to winning. Liverpool weren’t good; they were just less bad. If Newcastle want revenge in this rivalry, they need composure, not chaos. Until then, the Toon Army may keep singing, but the points will keep slipping.