18 hours ago
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It had to be Hugo Ekitike, didn't it? The man whom Newcastle was once targeting to play "alongside" Alexander Isak gave Liverpool the dream start to the second half, doubling the lead for the side with a one-man advantage.
That numerical edge came about shortly before half-time, when Anthony Gordon lunged in wildly on Virgil van Dijk. Either side of the break, a testing outing for Liverpool suddenly developed far more of a party feel.
That wasn't especially long-lived, with 10-man Newcastle regrouping to score shortly afterward and make things tense again. But it gave Liverpool fans enough time to have some fun at their hosts' expense,
Ekitike himself had been the subject of chants from Newcastle fans earlier in the game. A wayward pass had been met with a chorus of "you're just a s--- Will Osula".
It's unclear exactly how Osula will feel about being made the butt of the joke while still on Newcastle's books as the only recognized striker. But in any case, Ekitike conjured up the perfect response.
And after he doubled Liverpool's advantage, the songs in the terraces turned to another striker: Isak. The Liverpool faithful insinuated that the Swede had good reason for wanting to leave.
"Isak's right, your fans are s----," sang a gleeful away end. After all the talk of a cauldron atmosphere, this rendition was easily audible around a temporarily cowed St James' Park.
Of course, this kind of tit-for-tat terrace humor always uses some artistic license. In truth, Newcastle did produce a good atmosphere, as it usually does.
Indeed, there was a feeling that the game was far bigger to Newcastle than it was to Liverpool in some ways. The whole Isak transfer saga appears to have generated a "rivalry" only genuinely recognized from one side.
But all the passion in the world still has to be accompanied by the requisite quality. And whatever Isak's true reasons for wanting out, his absence was certainly felt.
Prior to his sending-off, Gordon had made himself busy. But for all his good work, his end product was conspicuously absent.
Poor Osula, meanwhile, is clearly not trusted to be the one to make a telling difference in front of goal. Eddie Howe prefers to operate without a recognized striker.
As the Sky Sports commentary noted, this game might have served to add a few million to the price tags of any forwards Newcastle may be targeting. The current situation does not look sustainable.
Howe will be hoping that even a wantaway Isak can come back and make a positive impact in front of goal once the transfer window is shut. But for now, Liverpool supporters will enjoy their moment of fun.
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