North East | Newcastle and Liverpool play out a classic

Newcastle United 2 - 3 Liverpool 

This had absolutely everything. An early contenders for game of the season?

Author | Anthony Gates 

Stadium | St. James' Park

Corner kick

Liverpool’s 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha wrote his name into club history with a stoppage-time winner at St James’ Park that made him the youngest scorer in their history. The strike was virtually the final kick of the game, capped a breathless night and silenced a stunned Newcastle crowd.

The atmosphere had been febrile, heightened by Liverpool’s long pursuit of Alexander Isak, and the contest lived up to the billing. Newcastle, reduced to 10 men after Anthony Gordon’s dismissal in first-half stoppage time, recovered from two goals down to level at 2-2 before Ngumoha delivered the decisive moment.

A closer look at what happened

Eddie Howe’s side began at pace but Liverpool landed the first blow when Ryan Gravenberch’s shot, deflected off Fabian Schär, beat Nick Pope 10 minutes before half-time. Tempers flared just before the interval when Gordon, deployed as a striker, was sent off for a reckless challenge on Virgil van Dijk after a VAR review.

Liverpool struck again immediately after the restart, Hugo Ekitike finishing neatly against the club who had failed to sign him before his move to Anfield. Yet Newcastle, undeterred by their disadvantage, halved the deficit when Bruno Guimarães met a cross with a diving header after 57 minutes.

Midfield battle

The champions wavered and William Osula bundled in a late equaliser to raise the roof at St James’ Park with two minutes left of normal time. Just when it seemed Liverpool had squandered victory, Ngumoha, aged 16 years and 361 days, arrived unmarked in the 10th minute of stoppage time to fire home.

The teenager’s goal not only secured the points but also placed him fourth on the list of youngest Premier League scorers, behind James Vaughan, James Milner and Wayne Rooney.

Newcastle fan reaction

Edward, a Newcastle fan, was delighted with the performance despite the defeat. He told us: "I thought it was an excellent performance from the players, in two very different halves. In the first we dominated and were in a strong position, only lacking the goal to show for it. 

“After the break, going 2-0 down with 10 men left us with a mountain to climb, yet we still controlled much of the game. The fight and quality were there and we came back superbly, but in the end we just fell short of taking something from it."

The Liverpool perspective

Liverpool manager Arne Slot hailed 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha after the teenager struck a composed late winner in a chaotic contest at St James’ Park. The champions twice squandered control against 10-man Newcastle before Ngumoha’s decisive finish secured a second successive win of their title defence. 

Concerns remain for Slot, with Liverpool again surrendering a two-goal lead and showing vulnerability under pressure. Hugo Ekitike’s second league goal in as many games provided another positive, yet defensive frailties continue to cloud Liverpool’s start.