A number of Liverpool supporters did not even see Fabio Carvalho's 98th-minute winner against Newcastle United because they left Anfield early. In some ways, it was the ultimate compliment: a second Liverpool goal just did not appear to be on the cards after Roberto Firmino cancelled out debutant Alexander Isak's opener with more than half an hour to go so a number of fans attempted to beat the traffic.
However, just like in 1996, Liverpool struck right at the death to seal a dramatic 2-1 victory deep into stoppage time. Tired Newcastle should have defended James Milner's corner better - the Magpies had three opportunities to clear their lines before Carvalho fired home - but the substitute's sweetly-struck volley hit the back of the net long after the allotted five minutes of stoppage time were up.
Perhaps, then, it was not a surprise that the goal sparked ugly scenes on the touchline, whether it was Liverpool goalkeeping coach John Achterberg sticking two fingers up; objects being thrown in the direction of Liverpool's bench; or Fabian Schar having to be restrained after taking issue with the Reds' wild celebrations.
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So why did referee Andre Marriner not blow up earlier? Well, the official appeared to add further time on after Nick Pope required treatment much to Liverpool fans' frustration. In fact, those Liverpool supporters who stayed behind after the final whistle ended up booing Newcastle players and staff off the field after taking issue with how long Eddie Howe's side took with restarts and how many players went down with cramp. It showed just how much Newcastle had unnerved Liverpool, who had it so easy in a 9-0 win against Bournemouth in the same stadium just a few days previously.
"My ideal is that we're booed off every week when we go to away grounds because you don't want to be popular," Howe told reporters after the game. "We're here to win, we're here to compete and we will do whatever it takes to try and win. I was proud of my players from start to finish. There were absolutely no concerns on any part of our play that disappointed me."
Newcastle's 28-year wait to win a Premier League game at Anfield goes on, but that should take nothing away from the Magpies' performance - particularly when the visitors were without the injured Bruno Guimaraes, Jonjo Shelvey, Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin. Sven Botman and Fabian Schar, meanwhile, were both rested.
What Newcastle did have was a new dimension up front. Alexander Isak may have only been granted a work permit around lunchtime on Wednesday, but the club's record signing made an instant impact after giving his side the lead in the 38th minute with an emphatic finish.
Newcastle had previously taken the lead at Anfield in 2021 and 2019, but this felt different. Howe's side pressed high up the pitch, and frustrated and disrupted Liverpool's rhythm by running down the clock, and Jurgen Klopp's side were unable to respond quite as quickly as in years gone by. In fact, remarkably, Pope did not have a save of note to make until the hour mark when he comfortably dealt with Harvey Elliot's effort from distance. However, just a minute later, Firmino levelled before Carvalho later took the roof off at the death.
Howe wants his players to bottle that feeling, to ensure they never have to experience it again, as Newcastle look to one day end their Anfield hoodoo. To put that wait into perspective, Alexander Isak, Joelinton, Joe Willock, Sean Longstaff and Matt Targett were not even born when Newcastle last won a league game at Liverpool in 1994.
However, Howe has long challenged his side to create their own history and Joe Willock spoke for the dressing room before the game when the midfielder said: "We are so motivated to go there and win and die for the badge." Newcastle may have been without a host of key players, but the black-and-whites had come a long way since their previous trip to Liverpool last December.
Newcastle were in a difficult position in the relegation zone at the time and the aim was just to stay in the game as long as they could. Although Newcastle took the lead, through Shelvey in the seventh minute, Liverpool roared back against the leaky visitors, winning 3-1 on a night where Klopp's side had 74% possession, 23 shots and 11 corners.
In contrast, 258 days on, Newcastle travelled to Anfield bidding to extend their unbeaten run after taking points off Nottingham Forest, Brighton, Man City and Wolves. The aforementioned game against City, when Newcastle held the champions to a thrilling 3-3 draw, showed just what Howe's side can do on their day against the world's best.
"We're in a stronger place," Howe told reporters ahead of the game. "The injuries are a concern to us, but we're unbeaten. The players are playing in a style of football and a way of playing that I believe they have got confidence in.
"We will be extremely tested in this game. It will be a really good examination of us, but I see no reason why we shouldn't go there and give another good account of ourselves and play with no fear."
Those aforementioned injuries left Newcastle without their best attackers, but Howe was able to hand Isak his full debut. Jamaal Lascelles, Matt Targett and Ryan Fraser also came into the starting line-up as Howe freshened up his XI by making four changes to an injury-hit side.
Rather than obsessing over his absentees or the might of Liverpool, as previous Newcastle managers have, Howe, clearly, was not about to raise the white flag as he stuck with his 4-3-3 formation. Newcastle, after all, could take some inspiration from how Fulham and Crystal Palace both got a draw against Liverpool earlier this month while Manchester United defeated Klopp's side, too. You felt the key was navigating a testing opening in the cauldron that is Anfield; spooked Bournemouth were 2-0 down after just six minutes last week.
Newcastle fared much better than the Cherries and the Magpies took the lead in the 38th minute. Sean Longstaff was urged to shoot by the away end as he seized on a ricochet, but the midfielder instead smartly poked the ball through to Isak. The Sweden international lashed the ball into the top corner with an emphatic finish to silence Anfield. Well, aside from the delirious 3,000 Geordies in the away end, that is.
Liverpool were stunned and it was Newcastle who looked the likelier scorers - even after Klopp had his half-time team talk. In fact, Isak had the ball in the net again in the 54th minute with another tidy finish, after taking Joe Gomez and Andy Robertson out of the game, but the striker was flagged offside.
Remarkably, Liverpool still had yet to have a shot on target until Pope saved Elliott's effort on the hour mark. Just a minute later, Firmino equalised with a smart first-time finish after Salah picked his team-mate out inside the box.
Liverpool, roared on by the Kop, piled forward and Carvalho popped up right at the death to win it for the hosts as a new generation of Geordies experienced late Anfield heartbreak.
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