Villa Park Stadium was quiet until a singing voice rang out from the corner of the stands with criticism for a character.
The subject was not named, but everyone understood that he was Alexander Isak - who is becoming the focus of criticism from Newcastle fans themselves. For Isak, it was not greed but ambition, the thing that motivated him to leave St James' Park.
Isak will definitely get what he wants, it's just a matter of when and where. It could be this transfer window, January or next summer. But initial evidence shows that Newcastle need Isak rather than Liverpool.
There was a scenario where Isak would leave if Newcastle successfully recruited Hugo Ekitike. Instead, the French striker joined Liverpool, while Newcastle continued to regret missing out.
Now, the Magpies are in a difficult situation: without Isak, no replacement, no £110 million to reinvest and no goals at Villa Park.
Coach Eddie Howe praised the team's spirit, but he himself had to admit that there was a "dysysysfunction". And Newcastle need a solution, as soon as possible.
In theory, Isak is still sure to be in the Newcastle squad for at least 15 more days, until the transfer window ends. When Eddie Howe said "the door is still open" for Isak, he was referring to the possibility of the striker continuing to stick with him. Although he was shaken and even thought about leaving his life in the Northeast, Isak still belonged to Newcastle on his contract papers.
Eddie Howe says a lot but reveals very little. A familiar theme in his speeches is "all things are out of control". In fact, that can be understood in many ways.
"Alexander Isak has to decide what he wants. He controls his actions," the England captain stressed. But in the end, Isak could only choose to escape from self-deportation, not completely decide to leave.
It is not mentioned directly, but the real control of Isak's future is in the hands of the Newcastle owners. Yasir Al-Rumayyan and the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) have so far maintained a tough stance - a regime that is not used to being grassroots.
Perhaps Liverpool have not created enough sympathy for the team they want to negotiate with, especially after recruiting Ekitike and keeping an eye on Giovanni Leoni - two names also on Newcastle's radar. That made the "Magpies" determined not to follow the wishes of the reigning Premier League champions.
Therefore, it would be a big shock if Newcastle suddenly changed their intention to sell Isak. One could argue that, among the top clubs, the richest team in the world is the one that needs the least money. However, Eddie Howe himself mentioned the issue of PSR at Villa Park as this barrier is significantly limiting their spending.
If they sell Isak, Newcastle will have more options. But the paradox is that they are hesitant to invest in the attack, despite their financial potential.
Another explanation is that Isak himself is reducing his value. Recent moves have made the possibility of Newcastle earning £150 million a long way off, while he himself is not in a good position.
If Newcastle had maintained a tough stance, Isak could have made the wrong decision. The public announcement of his intention to leave has caused him to be turned away by fans, while Liverpool and Arsenal both have their own goals.
The question is: Is Isak giving Newcastle a wrong assessment? And is a 2026-back-to-2026 deal with a Predicted release fee a reasonable way out for all parties?
The tragedy is that just last season, Isak and Dan Burn were the two goalscorers in the historic final, bringing home the first trophy since 1969 for the "Magpies".
This is a title that should have elevated them to the status of a team legend. But while Burn continued to contribute to his dream club, Isak soon found a way to return to the starting position, having lost that final.
The biggest risk at the moment belongs to Isak himself. He may never achieve what he wants. Perhaps the Swedish striker played his last match for Newcastle.
And if so, the familiar scene at St James' Park will no longer resonate in the song for Isak. Instead, the sour taste will be revealed in the upcoming match.
Newcastle's next opponent is Liverpool - the team Isak is eager for but certainly cannot wear at the same time in this struggle.
