13 mins Perhaps the simplest of their 87 PL goals this season put Liverpool ahead; Virgil Van Dijk having the freedom of St. James' Park to run into the box and head home a free kick from the right taken by Trent Alexander-Arnold. The PFA player's player of the year really couldn't miss. 0-1

20 mins Spanish duo Javier Manquillo and Ayoze Perez combined towards the right hand side of the Liverpool area and the full back sent over a cross that was just too high for Salomon Rondon but fell nicely to Matt Ritchie.

He fizzed it back across edge of the six yard box for Rondon to scoop the ball goalwards, only for Alexander Arnold to deliberately handball it. As players and crowd alike began to appeal for the penalty, the round was belted into the Leazes End net from close range by Christian Atsu. 1-1

28 mins The visitors attacked down their right flank and Daniel Sturridge was hemmed in near the corner flag by two Newcastle players before a neat back heel found Alexander-Arnold. His swooping cross was feathered home by Mo Salah, who put just enough power on his shot for it to elude the outstretched arms of Martin Dubravka. 1-2

Half time: Newcastle 1 Liverpool 2

54 mins Ki's flag kick from the South West corner was weakly headed out by Gini Wijnaldum, but Manquillo nodded to back into the path of Salomon Rondon. Without further ado he smashed it beyond the motionless Alisson to reach double figures in the league for the season. 2-2

May the fourth be with you: Star wors and the phantom menace

86 mins Ritchie tracked Fabinho towards the East Stand and there was some contact between the two players before the £40m signing stepped away from his marker and collapsed in a heap to the derision of home fans and the rage of Ritchie, as the linesman was conned into raising his flag.

On the instruction of Van Dijk in the box, the original set piece was altered to an in-swinger that substitute Xherdan Shaqiri delivered perfectly for fellow replacement Divock Origi to out-jump Lascelles and flick the ball home from close range. 2-3

Full time: Newcastle 2 Liverpool 3

In stark contrast to some of the unwatchable games endured at Gallowgate this season, Newcastle's final home fixture was something of a minor classic. Sub-plots abounded, goals and controversy were evident in abundance and the raucous atmosphere verged on the volcanic throughout.   

If this is how it ends here for Rafa Benitez, then that's one hell of a way to bow out.

Echoes of the first of our famous 4-3 Anfield games in April 1996 were clear; be it Mo Salah taking the part of Robbie Fowler or Salomon Rondon emulating Sir Les. Sadly though, injury deprived us of Miguel Almiron attempting to understudy David Ginola.

It wasn't quite a 90th minute goal that eventually beat us, but one almost expected to see Rafa slumped over an advertising hoarding as his side were dealt a mortal blow in the closing stages. 

Of course the biggest difference 23 years on was that we were just the supporting cast tonight, unlike 1996 this wasn't a summit meeting; nothing more than pride was at stake for Newcastle.

Regardless of that, what used to be called a cup tie atmosphere before cups were devalued was evident from the time that the massive fan-funded surfer was unveiled across the Gallowgate End.  

The fervour of the crowd was as much due to the lateness of the hour as to the importance of the game to the visitors and consequent infiltration of home sections. While recriminations over ticket distribution rumble on though, the scheduling of this game has to be questioned. 

Some games have early starts due to the threat of disorder; this one was almost willfully arranged to ensure that people were both fuelled up and pumped up. Sky call the shots and the fans drink them: Saturday night's all right for fighting apparently, along with a lack of public transport. 

What those present and tuning in across the galaxy witnessed was both memorable and agonising: Newcastle showing enormous spirit and skill, but also highlighting their own defensive shortcomings. 

Trailing to an early header by Van Dijk, United were soon level when Atsu cracked in a loose ball from close range before some Perez trickery saw him hit the goal frame. Another lapse at the back then allowed the visitors to regain the lead, but the hosts replied again when Rondon hammered home.

Just as the see-saw encounter seemed to have tipped in our favour though with Salah stretchered off following an accidental collision with Dubravka, Liverpool won it after some blatant cheating.

A free-kick wrongly awarded four minutes from time for Fabinho's dive and the goal that resulted gave the Red three points they barely deserved on a night when United more than matched them.

While Rafa rightly praised the commitment and effort of his players, he was doubtless less enchanted to have conceded another two headed goals. No less than 15 of the 48 we've let in this season were scored in this way - the highest in the division - no amount of coaching has cured this as yet.

Sadly for us, Klopp's side lead the way in scoring headers in the Premier League this season and were in no mood to pass up tonight's gift-wrapped opportunities.

Regardless of the scoreline, this was a night to be proud of after another fine performance. Whether it's the end of an era is still open to question; as well as the unresolved managerial situation, the futures of up to half of the squad remain up in the air - a full XI not involved tonight expected to be elsewhere by next August, not to mention those in the side on loan or looking to move on.

As it was that night in 1996 (and 45 years to the day that we lost to Liverpool at Wembley), full time brought mixed emotions for those of a black and white persuasion. Pride, uncertainty, defiance. 

Typical Newcastle.

Biffa/Niall