Not since the tradition of stag-dos the night before a wedding have preparations for a big day gone quite so spectacularly wrong.

Never mind the fact that Newcastle have lost for the first time at home this season, that Liverpool have closed the gap on them to six points with a game in hand and that their defending was as coherent as said groom after his bachelor party bender.

Rather, it is the realisation that goalkeeper Nick Pope will be suspended for next Sunday’s EFL Cup final with Manchester United that will feel worse than any hangover for Eddie Howe when he wakes this morning.

Pope will be elsewhere, presumably tied to a lamppost wearing red L plates. For it was the rookiest of errors that has denied him a place at Wembley, a straight red card after misjudging a throughball and handling deliberately outside of his penalty area. It is cruel on the England man, who has been magnificent this season.

But not to worry. Newcastle have the able Martin Dubrvaka, who came on here and did not concede, and Karl Darlow as back-up. Except, Dubravka is cup-tied. Ironically, he only gets a winner’s medal if Man United are victorious, the club he represented on loan earlier this season. Darlow, meanwhile, is on loan at Hull and cannot be recalled.

Liverpool’s forwards were on fire as Jurgen Klopp’s side moved to within six points of the top four with victory at Newcastle

Darwin Nunez opened the scoring with an emphatic finish past a helpless Nick Pope in the Newcastle goal just 10 minutes in

Cody Gakpo grabbed his second goal in as many games for Liverpool after a sumptuous assist from strike partner Mohamed Salah

Newcastle keeper Nick Pope was shown a straight red card for handling the ball outside of his area as Salah closed him down

Newcastle’s number one goalkeeper will now be suspended for the Carabao Cup final against Manchester United next week

Martin Dubravka, who replaced Pope, was called into action on a few occasions. He will not be able to play in the Carabao Cup final as he is cup-tied

This game also saw commemorations for what would have been Sir Bobby Robson’s 90th birthday. He was manager the last time Newcastle played at Wembley, a 2-1 FA Cup semi-final defeat by Chelsea in 2000.

They were valiant in defeat that day, as they were here with 10 men. But the loss of Pope is the inescapable kick in the crotch. Maybe it is they are destined to be the bridesmaid once more.

Newcastle’s top goal scorer Miguel Almiron was denied in the opening minutes by Alisson but the Magpies failed to score

Substitute Callum Wilson had the chance to pull a goal back but he was denied by Alisson who made a smart save

Diogo Jota had the opportunity to score a third for Liverpool late on but spurned a great chance by heading wide of Dubravka

Both sets of fans paid their respects to former Newcastle player Christian Atsu who died in the Turkey and Syria earthquake