Newcastle United's winning streak at St James' Park has come to an end following a 1-0 defeat against quadruple-chasing Liverpool on Saturday.
Naby Keita scored the only goal of the game in the 19th minute after the midfielder coolly dribbled past Martin Dubravka before slotting home as Newcastle suffered their first home league defeat since December.
Here are five things we learned from the game.
READ MORE: Newcastle United 0-1 Liverpool highlights
Newcastle fans make feelings clear towards Andre Marriner
Newcastle players, staff and supporters were furious that play continued in the build-up to Naby Keita's goal after Fabian Schar was left writhing on the turf in the build-up following a strong challenge from James Milner. Referee Andre Marriner was surrounded by irate Newcastle players, but the goal was not checked by VAR because Milner had got to the ball first before taking Schar down.
Supporters did not have the benefit of a replay and Marriner was booed as he walked off at half-time before the Gallowgate End chanted: 'You're not fit to referee'. Assistant head coach Jason Tindall waited to speak to the referee at the mouth of the tunnel but, in reality, Newcastle could have few complaints with Keita's goal.
Liverpool bench reflects challenge ahead for Newcastle
This date had been circled in an incredulous Jurgen Klopp's calendar for a while. In fact, two-and-a-half weeks before this game was even due to take place, the Liverpool boss moaned: "If you want to cause us problems, you send us to 12.30 at Newcastle."
Liverpool failed with a subsequent appeal to push the game back and staff and players were clearly still irked after having little more than 60 hours to recover and prepare for the trip to St James'. So much so, both Klopp and Virgil van Dijk brought up the kick-off time unprovoked in their respective post-match interviews after Liverpool's midweek win against Villarreal. The former deadpanned about playing Newcastle 'in a few hours' while van Dijk could not help but laugh in disbelief.
However, Liverpool are used to playing games in quick succession, and have the squad to cope. Even with top scorer Mohamed Salah and the influential Thiago on the bench, Liverpool were able to name a remarkably strong side as Klopp made five changes. The German even had the luxury of resting Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konate and Fabinho on the bench.
Liverpool's changed side put in a dominant showing - racking up 67% possession, 23 shots and six corners. Klopp was able to introduce Mohamed Salah, Fabinho and Thiago, who only cost a combined £103m, in the second half as the visitors went in search of that killer second goal.
Nothing quite summed up the task facing Newcastle's watching owners, Amanda Staveley, Mehrdad Ghodoussi and Jamie Reuben, to one day bridge the gap. Smart recruitment has been at the heart of the Reds' recent success and that has to be the case at Newcastle moving forward, too, in an era of Financial Fair Play.
Newcastle's reaction to defeat shows how far they have come
There was no disgrace in losing this game for Newcastle. This was a Liverpool side have lost just one of their last 28 fixtures in all competitions; who have taken 40 points from the last 42 available in the Premier League; and who are now unbeaten in all 11 of their away fixtures in 2022. It is hard enough to score against Klopp's side - let alone take points off them - and Newcastle were unable to even win a corner kick on Saturday.
Howe wanted his side 'to be as aggressive as we can be' and to play with 'no fear' as the Magpies attempted to impose their own game on Liverpool rather than sitting back and being passive as they traditionally have in these sorts of games over the years. That character and bravery was a necessity given the intensity of Liverpool's press because, unless Newcastle played through it or around it, Howe's side would just keep ceding possession.
Howe did not start the game with a recognised striker - Allan Saint-Maximin played through the middle and was flanked by Joelinton and Miguel Almiron - and Liverpool appeared to have been surprised by that set-up. Martin Dubravka directed his goal kicks towards the left-hand side and Joelinton gave Newcastle a presence out on the flank.
However, Newcastle ultimately did not manage to force Alisson into a real save of note and the Magpies' forwards were repeatedly flagged offside. That lack of a threat up front ultimately proved costly after Newcastle defended resiliently for large periods and the black-and-whites never quite looked like equalising.
Rather than sugar-coating that fact, it says it all about the standards at the club now that Howe and his players were ultimately disappointed with a narrow defeat against one of the world's best sides.
James Milner takes centre stage on return
Newcastle made a decent start to the second half and won a free-kick just outside the box in the 55th minute. James Milner headed away Jonjo Shelvey's effort, but then dropped to the turf and the game was stopped - which was not the case in the reverse fixture when Isaac Hayden was down with a head injury in the build-up to Diogo Jota's equaliser.
Assistant Jason Tindall could only smile on the touchline as Jurgen Klopp and the Newcastle bench exchanged words and supporters again made their feelings clear as they chanted: 'You're not fit to referee!' at Andre Marriner.
Milner ended up being booed, initially, by Newcastle fans when he was substituted late on but these jeers turned to applause as he made his way to the touchline as supporters paid tribute to the former Magpies' midfielder.
St James' streak ended but supporters get glimpse of future
The eyes of the world were on Tyneside on Saturday. Jurgen Klopp expected the whole stadium would be 'on fire' and the Liverpool boss' prediction was sound. Newcastle may be safe, but there was no danger of the welcome mat being rolled out for the quadruple-chasing Reds at St James' Park in the Magpies' penultimate home game of the campaign and Klopp knew it.
Liverpool have not tended to enjoy coming to Newcastle in recent years - failing to win seven of their previous 10 games at St James' - but Klopp's side have rarely experienced a noise quite like this before kick-off. It may have been an early start, but it felt like a night game ahead of kick-off as Wor Flags again helped create a sense of occasion with a huge surfer in the Leazes End and flags dotted around the whole stadium.
Newcastle fed off that energy in the opening stages which was, far from coincidentally, the Magpies' best spell in the game as the hosts pressed and harried and played with a real intensity. Joe Willock even forced the usually unflappable Alisson into a mistake as he was forced to put the ball out of play.
Liverpool soon dominated the game, of course, and ended Newcastle's run of six wins in a row on Tyneside but occasions like this give you a glimpse of the future. Eddie Howe hopes, one day, that this fixture will be a title decider rather than his side effectively being kingmakers. If this was the noise for a game between ninth and first, can you imagine the scenes if Newcastle eventually end their trophy drought?
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