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LIVERPOOL have completed an epic comeback against Newcastle with 10 men at St James’ Park.Darwin Nunez’s stunning brace late on sealed the points for the Reds after an epic Premier League clash.
The Magpies took the lead through Anthony Gordon after he pounced on a mistake from Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Minutes later, Virgil van Dijk was shown a straight red card for a foul on Alexander Isak, but being a man down didn’t deter the Reds from taking the spoils on Tyneside.

Match result: Newcastle 1-2 Liverpool
TV channel: Sky Sports Premier League
Live stream: NOW
Newcastle line-up: Pope, Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn, Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton, Almiron, Isak, Gordon
Liverpool line-up: Alisson, Robertson, Van Dijk, Matip, Alexander-Arnold, Endo, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Gakpo, Salah, Diaz

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That’s all from Newcastle
Liverpool came back and defeated Newcastle 2-1 in a dramatic encounter at St James’ Park.
The Reds endured a disastrous first half that saw Trent Alexander-Arnold picking up an early yellow for protest and barely escaping a second after pulling Anthony Gordon to the ground.
Things got even worse in the 25th minute when Alexander-Arnold failed to hold on to a back pass by Mohamed Salah with the ball going through his feet.
Gordon picked it up down the left flank and beat Alisson with a fine finish to get Tyneside rocking.
Things kept going downhill for the Merseysiders just two minutes and 40 seconds later as captain Virgil van Dijk was sent off with a straight red card.
Van Dijk fouled Alexander Isak from behind while the Newcastle star was in a good position to score.
However, Liverpool were saved by man of the match Darwin Nunez, who came on as a substitute in the 77th minute.
Nunez equalised four minutes later when Sven Botman lost the ball down the right and the striker picked it up to beat Nick Pope by hitting his bottom right corner.
The Uruguay international completed Liverpool’s stunning comeback in the third minute of stoppage time when Bruno Guimaraes gave the ball away and Salah freed his team-mate in front of Pope.
Credit: Rex
How Newcastle lost it
Newcastle put together a stunning performance against Liverpool at St James’ Park – or at least they did so until the 72nd minute.
That was when the Magpies’ manager Eddie Howe decided to bring out Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali.
Gordon was dominating down the left wing and absolutely destroyed Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold whereas Tonali was dominating in midfield.
Five minutes later man of the match Darwin Nunez entered the fray against a weakened Toon side.
Two serious mistakes in defence also contributed as Sven Botman lost the ball before the first goal and Bruno Guimarares gave it away before the second.
Credit: PA
Alisson speaks out
Liverpool star Alisson suggested this victory over Newcastle could lead to “something special” this season.
I really believe we can do something special this season.
There has been so much talk about our feelings on the transfer window.
Please don’t put words in our mouth, we are together, we believe in ourselves and we showed that here at Newcastle, a really tough place to get three points in these circumstances.
We have to use this game to move forward now.AlissonSky Sports
Credit: Reuters
Alexander-Arnold reacts
Liverpool ace Trent Alexander-Arnold described the performance at St James’ Park as one “for the ages”.
It was unbelievable, something very special. You come here with a game-plan, dictate the play and kill the atmosphere as that’s an advantage for them.
But we had to do it the hard way, a very hard way. We dug deep and pulled together.
A performance for the ages, one of our best performances. There was some outstanding performances.
Trent Alexander-ArnoldSky Sports
Credit: Reuters
Updated Premier League table
Liverpool have climbed up to fourth place in the Premier League table.
The Reds are now only two points behind Prem leaders Manchester City.
Newcastle, on the other hand, are 13th after losing two of their first three matches.
More below:

Newcastle vs Liverpool stats
Newcastle dominated 60 per cent of possession against Liverpool.
The Magpies registered 23 shots, but only eight were on target.
The Reds, on the other hand, produced nine shots, four of which were on target.
More below:

FT: Newcastle 1-2 Liverpool
Liverpool came back and beat Newcastle 2-1 in a dramatic encounter at St James’ Park.
The Reds endured a horrendous first half that saw Trent Alexander-Arnold picking up an early yellow for protest and barely escaping a second after pulling Anthony Gordon to the ground.
Things got worse in the 25th minute when Alexander-Arnold failed to hold on to a back pass by Mohamed Salah with the ball going through his feet.
Gordon picked it up down the left and beat Alisson with a fine finish to get Tyneside rocking.
Things got even worse for the Merseysiders just two minutes and 40 seconds later as captain Virgil van Dijk was sent off with a straight red card.
Van Dijk fouled Alexander Isak from behind while the striker was in a good position to score.
However, Liverpool were saved by man of the match Darwin Nunez, who came on as a substitute on 77 minutes.
Nunez equalised four minutes later when Sven Botman lost the ball down the right and the striker picked it up to beat Nick Pope.
The Uruguay international completed Liverpool’s stunning comeback in the third minute of stoppage time when Bruno Guimaraes gave the ball away and Salah freed him in front of Pope.
Credit: Rex
FT: Newcastle 1-2 Liverpool
Peep!
That’s full-time at Newcastle!!!
90+6 Newcastle 1-2 Liverpool
Chance
Newcastle get a free-kick from a promising position down the right and Pope comes forward.
Trippier delivers the cross and the Magpies’ keeper gets the header but sends it wide.
90+3 Newcastle 1-2 Liverpool
Unbelievable scenes! What a turnaround!!!
Bruno gives the ball away in midfield and Salah picks it up for Liverpool.
The forward plays it forward to Nunez who breaks through the Newcastle lines after some poor defending.
The striker finds himself in front of Pope and beats him with a clinical finish!

90+3 Newcastle 1-2 Liverpool
Goal!
Nunez may have won it for Liverpool!!!
90+3 Newcastle 1-1 Liverpool
Chance
Longstaff picks up a long ball inside the box and tries to flick with a back-heel through Alisson but the Liverpool keeper reads it well and picks it up.
90 Newcastle 1-1 Liverpool
Five more minutes of stoppage time to go.
Plenty of football left in this thriller of a match!
88 Newcastle 1-1 Liverpool
Chance
Newcastle ace Longstaff tries a long-range shot but it goes straight to Alisson.
The Magpies complained for a handball inside the area but VAR deemed play on.
87 Newcastle 1-1 Liverpool
Substitution
Newcastle boss Howe is not taking any risks as Botman hobbles off and is replaces by Targett.
85 Newcastle 1-1 Liverpool
Yellow card
Another booking for Liverpool, this time to Nunez after he kicked the ball away in frustration.
Premier League players will have to learn to be careful with that, Alexander-Arnold did the same in the first half.
83 Newcastle 1-1 Liverpool
Liverpool are playing with a whole new confidence after Nunez’s equaliser.
The Reds are not looking like they are playing with 10 men in the last few minutes!
Credit: PA
81 Newcastle 1-1 Liverpool
Newcastle ace Botman put together an impressive performance in defence today but on this occasion he gets all dangled and losses the ball down the right.
That allows Nunez to pick up the ball and hit Pope’s bottom right corner with a crisp shot!

81 Newcastle 1-1 Liverpool
Goal!
Liverpool equalise with Nunez!!!
80 Newcastle 1-0 Liverpool
Just 10 more minutes to go and Liverpool are getting livelier following their most recent changes.
Newcastle are desperately chasing for a second goal to put the game to bed.
77 Newcastle 1-0 Liverpool
Substitution
Liverpool boss Klopp makes another double change with Quansah coming on for his debut as he replaces Matip.
Nunez joins him as he replaces Mac Allister.
76 Newcastle 1-0 Liverpool
What a chance!
Newcastle ace Almiron puts together a marvellous run and tries a left-footed curling shot that rocks Alisson’s right-hand post.
72 Newcastle 1-0 Liverpool
Substitution
Newcastle boss Howe makes his first changes of the match as Wilson and Barnes come on to replace Isak and Gordon, who put together a stunning performance on the left and tormented Alexander-Arnold.
Tonali also comes off after a marvellous display as he is replaced by Longstaff.
70 Newcastle 1-0 Liverpool
Liverpool are slowly building momentum and have proven they are dangerous on the counter.
However, Newcastle remain comfortable, stunning display by Tonali, Bruno and Joelinton in the middle – Botman also dominant in defence.
67 Newcastle 1-0 Liverpool
Liverpool break into the counter with Jota who finds Salah inside the box.
The forward tries a shot but a stunning and well-timed tackle by Botman denies him.
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Newcastle are hosting Liverpool in a huge Premier League clash at St James’ Park RIGHT NOW.The Magpies have the lead through Anthony Gordon after he pounced on a mistake from Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Minutes later Virgil van Dijk was shown a straight red card for a foul on the Newcastle goalscorer.

Start time: 4.30pm BST
TV channel: Sky Sports Premier League
Live stream: NOW
Newcastle line-up: Pope, Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn, Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton, Almiron, Isak, Gordon
Liverpool line-up: Alisson, Robertson, Van Dijk, Matip, Alexander-Arnold, Endo, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Gakpo, Salah, Diaz

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35 Newcastle 1-0 Liverpool
Liverpool have endured a hellacious two minutes and 20 seconds.
First Gordon opened the scoring after a shocking error by Alexander-Arnold, who escaped a second yellow card.
And then they lost Van Dijk to a direct red for a challenge on Isak.
Credit: AFP
Credit: Reuters
33 Newcastle 1-0 Liverpool
Substitution
And there’s the change as Gomez comes on to replace Diaz.
30 Newcastle 1-0 Liverpool
Alexander-Arnold escaped a second yellow but Van Dijk was sent off with a straight red card.
Quite a controversial decision as one could argue there wasn’t enough contact.
Alexander-Arnold gets the captain’s armband and Liverpool boss Klopp is preparing Gomez to come on.
28 Newcastle 1-0 Liverpool
Red Card!
Liverpool star Van Dijk is sent off!!!
The centre-back appears to bring down Isak on the edge of the box just before he could break through and find himself at a good position to score.
VAR backs the ref and the Reds’ captain is sent off. What a shocking first half for Liverpool….
25 Newcastle 1-0 Liverpool
Things keep getting worse for Alexander-Arnold!
Salah plays a pass back to the full-back who fails to get a touch and the ball goes through his legs.
Gordon picks it up from the left and beats Alisson with ease!

25 Newcastle 1-0 Liverpool
Goal!
Newcastle open the scoring with Gordon!!!
24 Newcastle 0-0 Liverpool
Chance
Liverpool superstar Salah tries a curling effort from the right but Pope picks it up with ease.
23 Newcastle 0-0 Liverpool
Liverpool are struggling to create something and are relying on individual runs by Salah as well as Diaz.
Newcastle have won the battle of midfield and are already knocking on Alisson’s door.
20 Newcastle 0-0 Liverpool
Here’s how the two teams look like today at St James’ Park.
Liverpool in their historic red and Newcastle in their classic black and white.
Credit: AFP
18 Newcastle 0-0 Liverpool
Chance
Liverpool respond with a lovely run by Diaz down the left but his shot is palmed away by Pope.
17 Newcastle 0-0 Liverpool
Chance
Another effort for Newcastle as Gordon attempts a shot that gets a deflection and ends up on Alisson’s arms.
15 Newcastle 0-0 Liverpool
Chance
Newcastle complete their first shot on target with Joelinton on the left but it lacks power and speed.
Alisson picks it up with ease after some lovely passing from the Magpies.
13 Newcastle 0-0 Liverpool
Liverpool boss Klopp has ordered Gomez to start warming up.
This comes after Alexander-Arnold’s rocky start, a substitution is unlikely but the Reds’ bench is preparing for the worst following his early yellow card and close brush with a red card.
10 Newcastle 0-0 Liverpool
An intense first half so far at St James’ Park, the crowd is SO loud!
Liverpool trying to control the tempo but Newcastle are strong.
7 Newcastle 0-0 Liverpool
Woah, Alexander-Arnold gets lucky there! That could have been a second yellow.
The full-back brings Gordon down by pulling him down with his arm, but the referee waives play on.
5 Newcastle 0-0 Liverpool
Yellow card
First booking of the match already and it goes to Alexander-Arnold after he threw the ball in protest asking for a foul following a clash with Gordon.
2 Newcastle 0-0 Liverpool
And another reminder:
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has decided on his usual 4-3-3 formation against Newcastle.
Alisson starts between the sticks with Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back and Andy Robertson on the other side, while Joel Matip and captain Virgil van Dijk link up at centre-back.
Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister team up in midfield with Wataru Endo, who makes his full Liverpool debut.
Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo spearhead Klopp’s attack.
1 Newcastle 0-0 Liverpool
Just a quick reminder:
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe appears to have opted for a 4-3-3 formation against Liverpool.
Nick Pope starts in goal with captain Kieran Trippier at right-back and Dan Burn on the other side, while Sven Botman and Fabian Schar team up at centre-back.
Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton link up in midfield.
Miguel Almiron, Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak lead the frontline.
Newcastle 0-0 Liverpool
Peep!
Off we go in Newcastle!!!
Here come the teams!
St James’ Park is ready to host the Premier League clash between Newcastle and Liverpool.
The Magpies’ captain Kieran Trippier leads his team-mates out to the pitch.
Virgil van Dijk, on the other hand, dons the Reds’ esteemed armband today.
Not long to go now…!
Credit: EPA
Liverpool’s fiery frontline
Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz both start for Liverpool today against Newcastle.
Salah has scored or assisted in each of the Reds’ last eight Premier League matches.
Diaz, on the other hand, could become only the fourth player to score in the Merseysiders’ first three Premier League matches.
That would see the forward emulating Robbie Fowler in the 1994-1995 season, Daniel Sturridge in the 2013-2014 campaign and Sadio Mane in the 2017-2018 term.
Credit: Rex
Jurgen Klopp success
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has won 11 top-flight games as a manager against Newcastle boss Eddie Howe.
That includes the last 10 fixtures in a row between Klopp and Howe.
The German tactician could become the first Premier League boss to record 11 consecutive victories against one head coach.
That would see the ex-Borussia Dortmund manager surpassing Sir Alex Ferguson against Gordon Strachan and Pep Guardiola also against Howe.
Credit: PA
Eddie Howe hoodoo
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe hasn’t had much joy against Liverpool during his coaching career.
In fact, Howe has lost 15 of his 17 matches as a manager against the Reds across all competitions.
And two of the four losses the 45-year-old tactician has suffered in his 34 home league games in charge of the Magpies have come against the Merseysiders.
Credit: Rex
Liverpool stats
Liverpool drew 1-1 with Chelsea in their opening Premier League match at Stamford Bridge and then beat Bournemouth 3-1 at Anfield.
The Reds are undefeated in 13 matches, which is the current longest such run in the Prem.
However, the Merseysiders have won only six of their last 20 away league games.
Last season Liverpool lost four of their five away matches against the teams that finished in the top six along with them.
But the only exception was a 2-0 victory against Newcastle at St James’ Park.
Credit: Rex
Newcastle stats
Newcastle won their Premier League kick-off match against Aston Villa with a dominant 5-1 victory at St James’ Park but lost 1-0 to Manchester City at the Etihad later on.
The Magpies are looking to win two of their opening three league games for the first time since the 2011-2012 season,
The Toon last won their first two home games of a league campaign in the Championship back in the 2009-2010 campaign, while the hosts last did so in the Premier League in the 2000-2001 season.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has only seen his team keeping two clean sheets in their last 20 Premier League matches.
Credit: Reuters
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MATTY CASH’S first Aston Villa goals in over a year inspired Unai Emery’s side to a 3-1 victory over Burnley at Turf Moor.Cash came into the side as the only unenforced change from Villa’s 5-0 midweek Conference League win over Hibernian, and ensured there was no European hangover as he scored twice in the opening 20 minutes.
Matty Cash scored twice as Villa cruised to victoryCredit: Reuters
Unai Emery’s side made it two wins out of three so farCredit: Reuters
Lyle Foster gave Burnley hope with a powerful strike two minutes into the second half.
Only for Moussa Diaby to restore Villa’s two-goal advantage just after the hour as they ended a five-match winless league run on the road.
Burnley built their Championship title on the back of a 21-match unbeaten run at home, but have started life back in the Premier League with back-to-back defeats at Turf Moor.
Cash, playing in an advanced role on the right side of Villa’s midfield, needed only eight minutes to break the deadlock, sliding in to poke home Ollie Watkins’ cross.
It was the Poland international’s first goal since the final day of the 2021-22 season and the drama of Manchester City’s title-winning come-from-behind victory over Villa, but there would soon be another with Cash at the heart of a slick passing move.
Cutting in from the right to collect Watkins’ pass, Cash laid the ball off for Diaby on the right side of the box, then charged into the centre to lash home the resulting cross.
Burnley looked rusty after the postponement of last weekend’s trip to Luton left them with an enforced rest and were being overrun defensively as the chances kept coming.
Cash, brimming with confidence, tried a spectacular volley from Lucas Digne’s deep cross in the 35th minute, but Hannes Delcroix, making his Burnley debut after arriving in midweek from Anderlecht, got in a block to send it over the crossbar.
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Lyle Foster netted his first Burnley goalCredit: Getty
Villa climbed to sixth with the winCredit: Rex
Cash again linked up with Diaby, whose deflected cross found Watkins, but Trafford was in the right place to deny him from point-blank range.
Burnley had done little to threaten the goal of Robin Olsen, making his first Premier League start since New Year’s Day with Emi Martinez sidelined by a calf strain, but things changed immediately at the start of the second half.
Johann Berg Gudmundsson, on as a substitute, headed a deep ball back into the box and Foster had the power to hold off Pau Torres, spinning to fire beyond Olsen.
Burnley were suddenly on top. Sander Berge sent in a cross begging for a touch, then Zeki Amdouni caused panic between Pau Torres and Olsen.
More confusion between Olsen and Boubacar Kamara allowed Berge to run into the box, winning a corner from which Olsen did well to deny Delcroix a debut goal.
Having coped with the pressure, Villa hit Burnley on the break just after the hour.
McGinn shrugged off a shirt pull from Ameen Al-Dakhil to play in Digne, who pulled the ball back for Diaby to find the bottom right corner – the goal surviving a VAR check for offside.
Watkins should have made it four in the 67th minute when he beat Delcroix to a low cross but Trafford again denied him from close range, holding smartly.
Nicolo Zaniolo replaced Diaby to make his Villa debut and almost scored with his first involvement, seeing his shot deflected wide, but the Italy international should have squared for the unmarked Watkins.
Cash, still fancying a hat-trick, shot narrowly wide with 10 minutes left while Zaniolo flashed a powerful effort just over.
Burnley substitute Jay Rodriguez twice threatened Olsen’s goal late on, but there was no way back for the hosts.
Moussa Diaby impressed againCredit: Rex
Here is how the action unfolded at Turf Moor…

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WEST HAM and David Moyes banished their Brighton demons in incredible fashion to move to the top of the table.The Hammers had never beaten Brighton in the Premier League before this weekend, but it was 13th time lucky for the east Londoners.
James Ward-Prowse netted his first West Ham goalCredit: Getty
Jarrod Bowen made it 2-0Credit: Reuters
Michail Antonio wrapped up the points with a thirdCredit: Reuters
It was West Ham’s first win over Brighton in the Premier LeagueCredit: Getty
West Ham may be top for just a matter of hours, but considering a chaotic summer and slow start caused so much damage a year ago – this is some start.
The Amex was the site of one of Moyes’ lowest moments at West Ham when Roberto De Zerbi’s side battered the Irons 4-0 last season.
But how different this felt – a clinical away performance inspired at first by James Ward-Prowse’s first West Ham goal. 
There was then some brilliant counter-attacking from Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio after the break before some good old grit following Pascal Gross’ late goal.
All that against arguably the best Brighton side they will have faced compared to their last 12 attempts.
Moyes admitted that preparing to face De Zerbi’s side had left him with a thumping headache this week.
The plan the Scot had crafted after days of deliberation was to frustrate and hit quickly – and how it worked.
There was almost an early lead through Antonio, after Lucas Paqueta slipped a wonderful low ball into the path of the striker, who sent a limp shot at Seagulls debutant Bart Verbruggen, surprisingly selected ahead of Jason Steele by De Zerbi.
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After two warning shots, Brighton tried to turn the screw as West Ham sat in.
But the most the Seagulls could produce was a low shot from Billy Gilmour which fizzed wide of the near post after a spell of pressure.
West Ham were sitting and waiting for a mistake and were ready to pounce when one came.
Ward-Prowse, hugely energetic in the middle, raced in to cut out Adam Webster’s pass and thumped a ball forward for Antonio to chase down the left.
As the summer signing made a dash for the box, Webster was making things worse as he was left in a heap by West Ham’s No9.
Antonio drove into the area and squared for Ward-Prowse who managed to turn the ball home after his first effort had struck Gilmour’s back.
After two assists on his debut last week this was an example of why Moyes pushed so hard to sign the 28-year-old.
After Evan Ferguson almost levelled things up with a shot at Alphonse Areola on the turn, Ward-Prowse was back throwing himself in front of shots in the Hammers penalty box.
Brighton were struggling to find a way through West Ham’s block, but the Hammers then lost a crucial brick in their wall when Tomas Soucek was forced off after being punched in the head by Verbruggen as the two contested a dangerous Ward-Prowse free-kick.
They soldiered on without the Czech, however.
Debutant Edson Alvarez was just as impressive alongside Ward-Prowse, calm and composed in possession.
West Ham’s new midfield is looking rather sharp, but Brighton are still looking to rebuild their own following the sale of Moises Caicedo.
For all their neat possession, the Seagulls were struggling to create their usual abundance of chances.
Ferguson, the towering teenage striker, looked their most like source of a leveller and saw an early second half header palmed away well by Areola.
The Hammers were struggling to keep the ball but still posed a threat on the break, with Bowen prodding an effort wide of the far post and Emerson clipping the top of the crossbar.
They were warnings ignored by Brighton.
As the Seagulls overplayed on the edge of West Ham’s box, the visitors seized their moment.
Antonio collected the ball in the left-back spot and played forward to Benrahma on his own down the left.
The Algerian curled a stunner of a pass over for Bowen, who cushioned it with his first touch and rolled home West Ham’s second with his next.
Moyes jumped for joy and came close to repeating his jig from Prague on the touchline while De Zerbi was hopping mad.
He was leaping into the air again just six minutes later when Antonio joined the party, collecting from Bowen before holding off and turning Webster – again – and finishing well.
West Ham came within a whisker of adding a brilliant fourth through Ward-Prowse, before Gross rifled in Brighton’s 81st minute consolation.
Brighton threw everything forward to try and created a nervy finish but Areola made a string of superb late stops to just keep the Seagulls at bay.
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WOLVES substitute Sasa Kalajdzic scored a late winner two minutes after coming off the bench as Everton manager Sean Dyche’s decision to turn to some new faces produced a depressingly familiar outcome.The Toffees dominated this Premier League match – having 15 shots – but remain goalless and pointless in the 270 minutes they have played so far this season, as the visitors scored with their only effort on target in the 87th minute.
Sasa Kalajdzic netted a winner against EvertonCredit: Reuters
The defeat leaves Sean Dyche’s side rock bottom of the Premier LeagueCredit: Getty
Fans streaming out of Goodison had seen it all before as recently as a fortnight ago when a similar performance against Fulham also saw them lose 1-0 as they endured their worst start to a season since 1990-91.
But the supporters in old gold did not care as they headed back down the M6 celebrating their first win of the campaign – secured by a player making only his third appearance after rupturing his ACL in his first match last season – and their third in succession at Goodison Park for the first time.
It was bizarre to see the game touted as a must-win fixture for both sides with almost a week still left in August but such is the anticipated struggles of the two clubs, who were only lifted out of the last two places in the table by Luton’s defeat at Chelsea on Friday, it did take on the appearance of a “relegation six-pointer”.
Wolves boss Gary O’Neil will have taken some satisfaction from the result, having seen his final match as Bournemouth manager on the final day of last season end in a 1-0 defeat which kept Everton up late on for the second campaign running.
The visitors effected a classic smash-and-grab as they were second-best for the majority of the game but benefited from their opponents’ toothlessness.
It was tough on Everton, who were energised by Dyche’s decision to put his faith in youth to some degree.
The two loudest cheers at the pre-match team announcement were for Lewis Dobbin and Jarrad Branthwaite, aged 20 and 21 respectively, and they responded in kind with the sort of performances fans have been craving for too long: determined, committed and, in places, vibrant.
Dobbin offered an attacking thrust from the left side of midfield, much needed in the absence of the injured Dwight McNeil, while Branthwaite brought a degree of assuredness – courtesy of a loan spell in Dutch football at PSV Eindhoven – alongside James Tarkowski. His 6ft 5in height was an added bonus in both penalty areas.
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Dyche took what might be considered the bold option of starting the pair – and Arnaut Danjuma up front – when he could have stuck with experienced centre-back Michael Keane and brought in Neal Maupay for the injured Dominic Calvert-Lewin but the former Burnley boss had presumably seen enough of what they offered and decided it was not enough.
It helped inject some early urgency into the game but it soon became apparent the team was treading a familiar path.
The running of Danjuma, centrally, and Dobbin, wide left, gave the appearance of being more threatening but the lack of cutting edge remained a problem.
Even when Danjuma was put through by Amadou Onana in the 14th minute, he looked offside and when Jose Sa tipped his shot onto the post, the flag went up.
Tarkowski sliced wildly into the side-netting after Sa could only parry a shot from Dobbin from James Garner’s fierce drive into the box, Branthwaite headed over an Ashley Young free-kick and Danjuma volleyed wide from Nathan Patterson’s hanging cross.
Right-back Patterson’s improvement after two poor games added an extra dimension to Everton’s play but – without a spearhead – they failed to capitalise on his deliveries into the box.
Danjuma and Branthwaite, who headed into the arms of Sa, continued the tale of missed chances and it appeared recent history would repeat itself when Fabio Silva turned home Pedro Neto’s with Wolves’ first shot on target in the 57th minute but Everton were spared by the offside flag.
Encouraged, Silva then fired wide with only Jordan Pickford to beat after getting a run on Tarkowski.
Sa denied Danjuma and then, equally brilliantly, Abdoulaye Doucoure after the midfielder’s misjudged diving header bounced up and was tipped over.
Everton’s £15million summer signing Youssef Chermiti was given his first 25 minutes for his new club but it was Doucoure who continued to look the most threatening breaking from midfield and yet another offside decision kept the match goalless after he had cut inside on his left foot.
Then came the sucker punch as Kalajdzic made the sort of impact inside 120 seconds which Everton have failed to do for 18 months as he rose highest to glance in Pedro Neto’s hanging, inswinging cross.
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ASTON VILLA claimed their first win of the season with a huge 4-0 win against Everton.Meanwhile, Premier League new boys Burnley will be hoping to seal their first win of the campaign.

Date: Sunday, August 27
Kick off time: 2pm BST
TV channel/live stream: Not available in the UK

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