You suspect even Jurgen Klopp was a little surprised when the Liverpool boss saw Newcastle United's team sheet at 7pm on Wednesday night. There was the club's new record signing, Alexander Isak, in the starting line-up.
Eddie Howe had previously eased Bruno Guimaraes and, to a lesser extent, Sven Botman into life on Tyneside and the pair both started their Newcastle careers on the bench following their respective moves from the continent. Isak, in contrast, was thrown straight in at the earliest opportunity at Anfield.
Yes Allan Saint-Maximin and Callum Wilson's injuries influenced Howe's decision, but it would have been easier just to stick with Chris Wood for the third game running - even if the striker was a little jaded. However, Howe trusted Isak to start just hours after the Sweden international received his work permit, which shows just how highly the Newcastle boss rates the 22-year-old.
