A white-hot atmosphere at St James' Park called for Newcastle to keep their cool against Liverpool
Newcastle United co-owner Jamie Reuben.
Newcastle United's biggest strength turned into a major weakness against Liverpool on Monday night as their stormy clash with the Premier League champions ended in a 3-2 defeat.
There was always going to be a lot of passion and noise around the fixture after an acrimonious build-up centred around Alexander Isak going on strike as he tries to push through a move to Anfield.
As the game kicked off, the atmosphere was as fervent and raucous as anything experienced in recent years at St James' Park, on par with the Paris St Germain Champions League clash and the Carabao Cup semi-final against Arsenal.
Newcastle have built a reputation under Eddie Howe for fast starts, high pressing and using the noise of the crowd to help intimidate rivals. 'Intensity is our identity' is the motto.
They were soon into their stride with challenges from Joelinton and Sandro Tonali inside the first 10 minutes landing Liverpool free-kicks. Neither Newcastle player was booked but it set the tone.
Before the match, co-owner Jamie Reuben shared a post on X which read “INTO THEM”, signalling exactly how he wanted the players and fans to react. A banner with the same wording was on display in the East Stand.
It was all part of a concerted, focused message pre-match. Howe's programme notes called on 'each of you to help create that very special atmosphere under the lights here at St James' Park which is so unique'. Captain Bruno Guimaraes said in his column: "It's the noise our fans create tonight that will make the difference."
Reuben, who is believed to have met Isak at his home yesterday along with fellow director Jacobo Solis, has since deleted the post, but the white-hot atmosphere showed no sign of cooling even after Liverpool took the lead against the run of play.
At this point, however, Newcastle started to lose their discipline, both in terms of challenges and their shape. Suddenly, Liverpool looked in control, hitting on the break and finding space that had previously been restricted.
The home players looked flustered for the first time, and Dan Burn was deservedly booked after taking two wild swipes at Mo Salah on the halfway line. Seconds later, Anthony Gordon clattered into Virgil van Dijk and after a VAR review, was shown a straight red card.
Speaking on Sky Sports, pundit Jamie Carragher said he wasn't surprised that Newcastle had seen a player sent off given everything that had gone on in the build-up both off the pitch and in the stands.
“There was always a chance that Newcastle would lose a player tonight,” he said.
“We saw banners in the crowd, into them. Yeah there’s been people even on social media, their ownership saying get into them.
“It’s like sometimes you need to play with your brain and obviously here as well.”
The second half saw Howe's men play with just as much passion but a lot more control - akin to their Carabao Cup triumph over the same opposition - and almost snatched a remarkable result against the champions.
They will be counting the cost of Gordon's red card for a while, however, with the striker now missing until late September in the Premier League after picking up his third red card for the Magpies since signing in 2023, and his second in 14 matches.