About an hour before kick-off at Anfield in Liverpool, the news came from Newcastle.
"Alexander Isak will not play due to a groin strain", the club wrote on its website.
The team would have needed its red-hot striker to be able to challenge Premier League giants Liverpool. Isak has scored 19 league goals this season – including two as recently as in Sunday's 4–3 win over Nottingham.
With that goal tally, he is third in the top scorer list after Manchester City's Erling Braut Haaland (20 goals) and Liverpool's Mohamed Salah (25 goals).
Egyptian Salah had scored in six consecutive Premier League matches, but now the 32-year-old was goalless.
Instead, it was Hungarian Dominik Szoboszlai who scored the opening goal in the 11th minute for Liverpool. In the 63rd minute, Alexis Mac Allister sealed the win to 2–0.
Then, Liverpool coach Arne Slot was seen wildly celebrating in the stands. The Dutchman was not allowed to coach the team from the sidelines as he had been suspended for two matches for confronting the referee after the derby against Everton in mid-February.
After 28 matches played, Liverpool tops the Premier League on 67 points – 13 points ahead of second-placed Arsenal, who have one fewer match played.
