Liverpool 2-1 Newcastle 
by James Nalton
at Anfield

If Liverpool wanted some preparation for Saturday’s Merseyside derby, then they couldn’t have asked for much more.

Fabio Carvalho’s winning goal in the 98th minute against Newcastle on Wednesday night lit the touchpaper, igniting an atmosphere that had been brewing all game.

There had been back and forth between the two benches throughout, particularly between Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and Newcastle assistant Jason Tindall, just as there had been between the two sets of fans.

Newcastle are a different proposition under Eddie Howe, and look like they will be able to mix it with the Premier League’s “big six” and maybe even break into it. But having initially looked like they could win this game at Anfield, by the end of it they were just trying to hold on for a point.

New signing Alexander Isak was impressive, and the visitors looked the more dangerous team for much of the game. Isak finished well after getting beyond the Liverpool defence to score the opener, and mere inches ruled out an impressive second for offside.

Towards the end of the game Newcastle’s players tired after an intense opening hour, regularly going down with cramp which broke up the game. Some of it must have been genuine given the effort put in, but it was also a time-wasting ploy, and they had been slow at restarts even prior to that.

It’s par for the course though, especially when facing one of the best teams the Premier League has seen in recent years on their own patch.

Liverpool went on to show why they have been such a good team. Despite a lacklustre start, they snapped into life when Roberto Firmino equalised on the hour mark.

Then when it looked like time was up, Liverpool had one last opportunity from a corner from which Carvalho fired home a loose ball.

The strike went in off the bar from close range, adding extra impact to what was an eruption of noise in the old stadium. Liverpool’s wild celebrations angered the Newcastle bench but they no doubt would have done the same had the boot for the winning goal been on their foot. 

On this evidence, Newcastle will get their chance to celebrate in the future, but for now the moment belongs to Liverpool and Carvalho, who along with 19-year-old Man of the Match Harvey Elliott gives Liverpool hope for the future, too.

The immediate future sees a trip across Stanley Park to Everton tomorrow, and if they wanted a game to prepare for the potential needle and drama of a derby, then this clash with Newcastle was certainly that.