Alexander Isak was jeered from the moment he stepped off the team bus and endured a hostile reception throughout his first return to St James' Park since his £125million move to Liverpool, as the season-opening match finished 2-2.
Newcastle United supporters, who had waited a year for the chance to target their former striker, did not hold back. Isak, now the Premier League's most expensive player, stepped forward to take Liverpool's kick-off and was met with immediate scorn from the home crowd.
The abuse came only moments after both sets of supporters applauded for a minute in tribute to Kevin Keegan, the former Newcastle manager who died recently.
Elanga's breakaway goal
Newcastle took the lead early. Four minutes after kick-off Isak's first touch went wrong, and within a minute Newcastle scored on the break, a fast, direct and ruthless finish from Anthony Elanga. Elanga, a fellow Swede, was signed by Newcastle last summer to play alongside Isak, before Isak left for Liverpool.
Isak was not alone in struggling. Liverpool were unconvincing for large periods, and Newcastle had further chances to add to their lead.
Ankle scare and Jaissle's response
Isak was left clutching his ankle after a challenge from Newcastle's Lewis Hall. New Newcastle manager Matthias Jaissle, standing only yards away, threw his arms in the air, not to protest the challenge but to invite more jeering from the crowd, who obliged. Isak, unhappy with the reaction, was quickly back on his feet to remonstrate with Jaissle, who was unmoved.
Jaissle got the better of Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola over the course of the game, with both men making their managerial debuts. Jaissle was animated and aggressive on the touchline, frequently disregarding the boundaries of his technical area.
Isak's miss and a late leveller
With Newcastle leading 2-1 in the 69th minute, Isak had his clearest chance of the afternoon, a sight of goal from 14 yards out. His shot flew into the stands.
Liverpool were awarded a penalty during five minutes of stoppage time. Dominik Szoboszlai took the kick and scored, levelling the match at 2-2 and sharing the points.
Tribute to Kevin Keegan
Before kick-off, Newcastle supporters had unfurled a quote from Keegan across the Gallowgate End: "I want people to dream about their football club. They should. We should all be dreamers at heart. Some people are the opposite and say, 'we can't do that'. But when you ask them why they can't give a reason. Well, I say, 'why not?'"
Keegan managed Newcastle's attacking side of the 1990s, known as the Entertainers, members of which were present for the match. He was pictured slouched behind the Anfield advertising hoardings in 1996 after Stan Collymore scored a 92nd-minute winner to complete a 4-3 defeat to Liverpool, one of the most memorable games of that era.
What's next
Newcastle next play Bournemouth and Hull City at St James' Park in the coming weeks, matches without the same occasion or a former player to target. Yoane Wissa, who now wears Isak's old No 9 shirt at Newcastle, was named the game's best player, despite missing a chance four minutes from time that would have made it 3-1.
