TWELVE months on from Newcastle suffering 98th minute heartbreak at Anfield, the Magpies were once again stunned in stoppage time by Liverpool.

When substitute Darwin Nunez scored his 93rd minute winner to complete the most unlikely late comeback for 10-man Liverpool at St James' Park on Sunday, Eddie Howe looked gobsmacked in the technical area.

Understandably. His side had completely dominated for long stages against Jurgen Klopp’s men and after Anthony Gordon hit a 25th minute opener and Virgil van Dijk was sent off three minutes later, it appeared to be damage limitation for Liverpool. It should have been. Newcastle had more than enough chances to comfortably wrap up their first victory over Liverpool in 14 attempts, but paid the price for not taking advantage of their extra man and dominance and failing to manage the game. Eddie Howe's second half substitutes backfired.

The home side had 23 shots on goal but Nunez came off the bench to hit an 81st minute equaliser and scored the winner 12 minutes later. It was harsh on Newcastle and in particular the brilliant Gordon, who had his best game in black and white.

Newcastle played against 10 men for more than an hour but the Magpies will rightly point to the fact Liverpool should have lost a defender 20 minutes earlier.

Flashpoints and fury felt inevitable in this must-watch fixture, but perhaps not as early as seven minutes in, when Alexander-Arnold’s flailing arm sent Gordon to the deck. It was a clear foul and appeared to be a blatant yellow card – which is what had been flashed at the full-back less than 60 seconds earlier when he thew the ball away in a separate incident.

While the home supporters screamed for a sending off and Klopp bellowed at Jason Tindall to “sit down”, referee John Brooks paused for thought before opting for a long chat with Alexander-Arnold rather than a red card.

The England man was lucky. Had he not been booked a moment earlier, the second foul would almost certainly have been deemed a yellow card offence. That would have likely been the case had he committed the offence 30 minutes rather than 60 seconds after being carded.

The decision not to send the England defender off actually looked like it had worked in Newcastle’s favour, for Alexander-Arnold was out of sorts and given the runaround by Gordon. It was the defender’s error that gifted the Gordon the opener. He failed to control a simple Mo Salah pass and Gordon raced in, keeping his cool to slot under Alisson.

The red card followed just three minutes later as the horror start for Liverpool’s chaotic backline took another disastrous turn when Van Dijk was sent off for a foul on Joelinton. Klopp aimed his fury in the direction of the fourth official Craig Pawson, who must have known what sort of afternoon he was in for when he was handed his fixture schedule. Van Dijk followed his manager’s lead as he headed for the tunnel.

Luiz Diaz was sacrificed for Joe Gomez and Newcastle sensed their opportunity. Dan Burn went close with a header from a corner and only a stunning Alisson save denied Miguel Almiron a brilliant volleyed goal.

The second half started as the first had finished, with Newcastle on top. Sandro Tonali bossed the midfield and Gordon looked threatening every time he had the ball.

If Alexander-Arnold had been sent off, at least he’d have been spared the hassle of trying – and failing – to stop Gordon. Just after the hour mark, he cut in from the left and took aim, his shot flashing just wide.

By that stage, Klopp had introduced Jota and Harvey Elliott in the hope of sparking change and the former almost played in Salah midway through the second half, Botman coming to the rescue with a brilliant sliding challenge inside the box. A flurry of Liverpool corners followed but Newcastle stood firm. And the home side didn’t intend to sit deep and see it out.

Almiron came within inches of a second goal when his shot from the right side hit the outside of the left post. Substitute Harvey Barnes – who’d replaced Man of the Match Gordon – had an opportunity on the counter but his deflected effort bounced wide.

And Newcastle were made to pay. Nunez hit a brilliant equaliser when he drove a low shot into Pope’s far corner and – buoyed by their leveller – Liverpool stunned the hosts when Nunez fired the last gasp winner.