It's decision time now on the Newcastle United takeover – the wait can't go on

But we didn’t see the strangest result, despite one of the earliest goals.

Almost a year after Newcastle United kicked off their campaign, the club ended the season with a 3-1 defeat to Liverpool.

The 351-day campaign has had its moments, but, ultimately, it’ll be remembered on Tyneside for the sterile and sanitised behind-closed-doors restart on the pitch – and the excruciating takeover saga which has been playing out for months off the field.

Head coach Steve Bruce had a long chat with Jurgen Klopp by the visiting dugout before the game.

Klopp is revered on Merseyside after ending Liverpool’s 30-year wait for the league title.

Bruce started out last summer looking for acceptance on Tyneside following Rafa Benitez’s departure. The 59-year-old has delivered Premier League safety – the club finished well above the relegation zone – and a cup run in his first season at St James’s Park, but fans, understandably, want more from their team. Can Bruce deliver the improvement they want?

For all the speculation over a managerial change ahead of a takeover, Bruce, in all likelihood, will still be in charge when the new Premier League season kicks off on September 12.

The ownership situation is less certain, and the “clarity” that Bruce has demanded must, surely, come soon from the Premier League, which has been assessing a proposed Saudi Arabia-backed takeover since April.

The expectation felt when the takeover was revealed has made way for trepidation, and it’s decision time now, though United supporters are taking nothing for granted. They fear that this could go on and on.

It’s been a very different season for Liverpool fans, and a small group of them greeted their team’s bus at the stadium perimeter.

Liverpool were also given a guard of honour at St James’s Park, but the welcome ended there. Newcastle took the lead with just 24 seconds on the clock thanks to Jonjo Shelvey’s quick-thinking.

Shelvey aimed a free-kick over the top for Gayle, who finished to give United an early, and unexpected, lead.

Liverpool, expectedly, came back at Newcastle, who frustrated them until the 38th minute, when a right-wing cross from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was met at the far post by Virgil Van Dijk, whose looping header beat Martin Dubravka.

Bruce replaced Allan Saint-Maximin with a red-haired Joelinton at the break, and Liverpool, again, dominated the ball. Newcastle retreated, and a second goal for the visitors was an inevitability.

It came from Divock Origi in the 59th minute. Origi took the ball to the left of United's box and cut on to his right foot before lashing a low shot which beat Dubravka.

Mohamed Salah, Saido Mane and Roberto Firmino were sent on by Klopp, while Bruce also made a number of changes, notably giving 20-year-old defender Kelland Watts his debut late in the game.

Sadio Mane added a third, and that was that. Newcastle ended the campaign in 13th place – just like last year, but with one point less.

It’s over to the Premier League now.

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