Gareth Southgate had the humility to acknowledge that his in-game management could still be improved just before the last World Cup. The only issue facing the England coach is that his team does not participate in enough games to allow him to make the creative mid-match substitutions and tactical changes that separate managers like Liverpool’s Jürgen Klopp from the pack.

Whatever the case, Southgate was at least in Tyneside to observe a Klopp masterclass in overcoming adversity and triumphing against all odds.

After Virgil van Dijk’s red card in the 28th minute, which left Liverpool down to 10 men, and after falling behind to Anthony Gordon’s magnificent opening goal three minutes earlier, Klopp made excellent use of his substitutes. He received two outstanding goals from Darwin Nez, an unusual figure, as just compensation.

If the Uruguayan striker’s goal in injury time proved why Liverpool paid Benfica a record £85 million for his services last summer, then his manager’s earlier introduction of players like Diogo Jota helped not only to elevate Mo Salah but also to put Eddie Howe in his proper place.

By orchestrating Newcastle’s first Premier League victory against Liverpool since 2015, the home manager sought to signal the start of a new era in the northern powerhouse of football. Things started off nicely for him.

Few spectators could have predicted that the confrontation between Trent Alexander-Arnold, the sometimes inverted right back for Liverpool, and Gordon, the right back for Newcastle, would immediately spark match-changing controversy.

Alexander-Arnold was ruthlessly forced into the technical area by Gordon after just five minutes, and he threw the ball away out of disgust. The referee, John Brooks, was forced to give the booking despite the fact that it sounded severe and even pedantic due to the most recent legal edicts.

A furious Alexander-Arnold impeded Gordon’s way a minute later by throwing out an arm and elbowing the left winger inadvertently. Despite intense pressure from Howe and Kieran Trippier, the captain of Newcastle, Brooks resisted receiving a second yellow card.

Alexander-Arnold appeared to be uneasy since he quickly lost focus at a crucial time. The full-back gave Gordon the opportunity to sneak in, grasp the ball, and display some amazing pace before sending a low shot whizzing under Alisson on the way to the goal by allowing Salah’s admittedly awful pass to wriggle beneath his studs.

Gordon was just unstoppable at this point, high on adrenaline and displaying the kind of change in pace that suggested he might have recruited Usain Bolt as a sprint coach. The England Under-21 winger, a former Everton player, undoubtedly seemed to enjoy wearing down Alexander-Arnold and the more agitated Jol Matip in front of Southgate.

Alexander Isak received a pass from Gordon, of all people, with a clear shot on goal, but was brought down by Van Dijk’s vicious challenge just outside the penalty area.

Although a VAR review supported Brooks’s controversial decision to issue a straight red card, neither the center-half nor Klopp took that decision too well. However, things could have gone even worse for Liverpool if Alisson hadn’t worked acrobatic miracles to block Miguel Almirón’s goal-bound volley. We have a strong candidate for season’s best save even if September hasn’t arrived yet.

In response to his team being reduced to 10 men, Klopp sacrificed Luis Daz in order to add Joe Gomez and provide some security for a shaky midfield.

Despite Howe’s admiration for the Hungarian international Dominik Szoboszlai, both Alexis MacAllister and Wataru Endo, who was starting for Liverpool for the first time, struggled to get touches and had little impact.

It left Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali and Joelinton to control the midfield, building a foundation in which Gordon’s steady supply of dangerous crosses regularly threw Klopp’s defense off balance.

Salah may or may not wish to leave Liverpool for a new life in Saudi Arabia, but regardless of his innermost thoughts, the Egyptian striker gave Liverpool supporters a glimpse of hope with the occasional frightening offensive cameo. Salah’s inability to consistently make a play was less down to him and more due to Sven Botman’s skill in handling Salah’s cunningly sneaky movement.Indeed, a visitor team that improved almost beyond recognition after Klopp substituted Harvey Elliott and Jota for Endo and Cody Gakpo was denied by Botman’s brilliant last-second sliding, reaching block on Salah.Newcastle supporters became anxious despite Almirón’s swerving left-foot shot rebounding off the base of a post. With hindsight, Howe most surely would not have made the self-destructive second-half substitutions that gave control to Liverpool by removing the hugely important Gordon, Joelinton, and Tonali.Even Botman was unable to control the pass of the latter when Salah and Jota worked together to exceedingly brilliant effect. The turmoil gave Nez, a new replacement for Mac Allister, the opportunity to pounce. The Uruguayan moved forward with ease and sent a low shot into the bottom corner, ruining Nick Pope’s previously pleasant afternoon. Howe appeared shocked.