Fábio Carvalho strikes at death to give Liverpool dramatic win over Newcastle

Newcastle have come a long way fast under Saudi ownership but cannot escape the feeling of last-minute despair at Anfield. To Stan Collymore in 1996 and Robbie Fowler in 1997, they can add Fabio Carvalho 2022 to the list of Liverpool tormentors. Eddie Howe will find solace in the performance once the pain eventually subsides.

Five minutes of stoppage time were signalled at the end of an engrossing, fractious affair at Anfield. Liverpool’s young substitute Carvalho, who turned 20 on Tuesday, extended his birthday celebrations with the winner in the 98th minute. Additional time was added to the additional time due to treatment to Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope and time-wasting from his teammates. Liverpool thought it poetic justice that victory should arrive with the final kick of a frequently interrupted game but their bench overstepped the mark when stressing that point to a distraught Newcastle bench. Goalkeeping coach John Achterberg made a beeline for the visiting dugout after Carvalho hooked home from one last Liverpool corner. He was accompanied by several Liverpool staff, who had the temerity to tell Newcastle to cool it when they inevitably reacted.

Howe’s team got under Liverpool’s skin throughout, with new record signing Alexander Isak scoring a superb opener on his debut, but through sheer persistence, will-power and excellence in front of goal Jürgen Klopp’s side prevailed at the last. Liverpool will hope the manner of victory launches their season. Newcastle will hope the nature of their first defeat does not define theirs.

With Callum Wilson, Allan Saint-Maximin and Bruno Guimarães all injured, and the Home Office clearing his work permit hours before kick-off, Isak went straight into Newcastle’s starting