This storied fixture served up plenty of entertainment over the years, with images of a disconsolate Kevin Keegan and an overjoyed Stan Collymore immediately springing to mind, typifying Newcastle’s ongoing struggles at Anfield.
The Magpies have not found much joy on the road this season either, but almost ripped up that particular narrative when Harvey Barnes rattled the post from a well-worked free-kick.
Eddie Howe’s men looked the hungrier of the two sides, and struck first at the end of a blistering counter-attack when former Evertonian Anthony Gordon drilled a right-footed strike past Alisson to score his first Premier League goal from open play in over a year.
However, Arne Slot’s side completely turned the game on its head before half-time through Hugo Ekitike’s brace.
The first goal was an instinctive first-time finish from Florian Wirtz’s cut-back, while the second was arguably even better, following a superb toe-poked finish at the end of a pulsating first half.
Liverpool pushed for a third after the restart, as Ekitike missed a chance to complete his first senior hat-trick when he fired wide after getting the better of a relieved Dan Burn down the right-hand side.
That joy was short-lived, though, as Florian Wirtz added a third with a brilliant guided finish past Pope after Mohamed Salah teed up the German with a first-time shot, ensuring the Egyptian became the first player in Premier League history to score and assist 10 goals against one opponent.
He should have netted an 11th goal against Newcastle moments later, but skewed his effort wide after bearing down on Pope’s goal.
It had been a sobering second half for the visitors, but Gordon was not too far away from netting his and Newcastle’s second when he flashed a long-range effort wide.
But it was Ekitike who made two telling contributions on the night, deservedly lapping up the applause of the Anfield crowd in a fine debut season on Merseyside.
There was still time for Ibrahima Konate to add a fourth when Pope spilt a corner, and the Frenchman rolled the ball into an empty net, looking overcome with emotion following the recent passing of his father.
This result means Liverpool have now claimed 12 PL doubles over Newcastle - the most against any single opponent in the competition, moving them back up to fifth and within a point of fourth-placed Chelsea.
Meanwhile, the Magpies are winless in 30 consecutive top-flight visits to Anfield (D5, L25) - now the outright longest run in their league history, and remain 10th in the table.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool)