Liverpool seized an early advantage over Newcastle United on Monday night when midfielder Ryan Gravenberch struck from long range in the 36th minute at St James’ Park, giving the reigning Premier League champions a 1–0 lead in a match Newcastle had largely controlled. The goal, Gravenberch’s second in the competition and coming on his 50th league start, arrived against the run of play after sustained pressure from Eddie Howe’s side. Newcastle went into the fixture without leading striker Alexander Isak, whose future remains uncertain amid Liverpool’s £110 million pursuit, forcing Howe to deploy Anthony Gordon as a makeshift centre-forward. Despite carving out several chances, the hosts’ finishing woes persisted and they have now gone more than three league games without a goal. The contest was still in progress at the time of writing, with Arne Slot’s Liverpool looking to preserve their perfect start to the season while Newcastle search for a breakthrough.