Roy Keane pointed the finger at Alexis Mac Allister for Alexander Isak's opening goal for Newcastle against Liverpool.
Mac Allister started in midfield for the Reds at St James' Park, alongside Ryan Gravenberch and Curtis Jones. But just 20 minutes in, the Argentine picked up a yellow card for a late challenge on Fabian Schar.
That will see him suspended for the Merseyside Derby against Everton on Saturday. But Keane believes it had a more immediate negative impact on Arne Slot's side on Tyneside.
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Fifteen minutes after Mac Allister's booking, Isak opened the scoring for Newcastle. The goal came when Magpies skipper Bruno Guimaraes got past Mac Allister before playing in the Swedish international.
Isak held off Virgil van Dijk before firing an unstoppable effort into the top right corner of the net. But Keane insisted that Mac Allister was at fault, blaming the midfielder for rushing out of position to close down Guimaraes.
He told The Overlap's Watchalong: "Look at Mac Allister. Look at Mac Allister. Look at Mac Allister. Look at Mac Allister. Look at Mac Allister here. He can't. Great strike. What power. If you're on a yellow card and can't run don't go in there."
Chelsea legend Pat Nevin instead hailed Isak for his work in opening the scoring. He picked out the striker for his work throughout the first-half, with Newcastle holding onto their lead until half-time.
"Alexander Isak is some player! Moments after he set up Lewis Hall for a chance which he can't get on target he goes alone, turning Virgil van Dijk about 25 yards out and then absolutely leathering the ball into the roof of the net," Nevin told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"That had power, swerve, dip...a sensational goal! Liverpool made a good start to this game, but as the first half went on, Newcastle have got better and better. And Alexander Isak has been the absolute star of the show."
"He's created some golden chances for his team-mates before hitting one into the top corner. It was a very, very special goal from a special player."
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