Newcastle vs Liverpool LIVE: Premier League results and reaction as Nunez scores late winner for 10-men Reds

Last August, it was Darwin Nunez who lost his head. A year on, as Liverpool’s captain and vice-captain led by the wrong sort of example and as they threatened to unravel at Newcastle, Nunez served as rescuer.

A man down, a goal down, almost two adrift, a first loss in 14 league games beckoned for Liverpool. Enter Nunez, the £64m afterthought, the player sent off on his Anfield debut for headbutting Joachim Andersen. Now the fifth-choice forward, he clinched an improbable comeback; a swift brace turned a damaging setback into a seminal victory. Suddenly, the more costly of two meltdowns was Newcastle’s.

They contrived to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. They can reflect on two moments to transform the mood at St James’ Park and the feel of their start to the season. The first, when Diogo Jota’s pass bounced off Sven Botman and Nunez drilled a shot past Nick Pope. The second, when Bruno Guimaraes lost the ball, Mohamed Salah provided a slide-rule pass and Nunez again turned executioner.

Jurgen Klopp has now beaten Eddie Howe 11 straight times in the Premier League, setting a new record for consecutive victories by one manager against another in the competition.

Darwin Nunez is the second Liverpool player to come off the bench and to score both the equaliser and the winning goal in a Premier League match, after Mark Walters in a 2-1 home win over Blackburn Rovers on 13 December 1992.

This is the first time in Liverpool’s club history that they have won three straight league visits to St James’ Park.

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool are also now unbeaten in their last 14 league matches against Newcastle – they’ve won 10 or those gmes and drawn four.

Liverpool have extended their unbeaten run in the Premier League to 14 matches (nine wins and five draws) — the longest active streak in the league.

Liverpool’s matchwinner Darwin Nunez gave his reaction to Sky Sports saying: “I feel very happy for the team to be able to help them.

“After we went a man down the team played really well. We work really hard for these moments, and I am happy to score the two goals to help the team.”

Liverpool are now into the top four with seven points after that win. Although the season is only three weeks old that victory could be a crucial one. It’s the difference between a good and disappointing start to the campaign.

Newcastle have now lost two in a row – against Man City and Liverpool – which is not something Eddie Howe and his team will have hoped for after their win over Aston Villa.

Newcastle will wonder where that game went wrong. They had it in the bag and were winning 1-0 with one player advantage. The mentality to hang onto that lead wasn’t there.

They became weak in defence and allowed Liverpool to break through twice. Darwin Nunez was insanely clinical today, he scored with both his shots on target.

Jurgen Klopp is beaming and celebrating with the Liverpool supporters. He’ll be as amazed at that comeback as everyone else is.