Sixteen-year-old substitute Rio Ngumoha scored a sensational last-gasp winner as Liverpool defeated 10-man Newcastle 3-2 in a Premier League classic on Monday. The victory kept Liverpool among the early pace-setters alongside Arsenal and Tottenham.
A Fierce First Half
Liverpool took the lead against the run of play when Ryan Gravenberch netted his first Premier League goal in 16 months. Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon then made matters worse for Eddie Howe’s side with a reckless challenge on Virgil van Dijk, earning a red card just before halftime.
Second-Half Drama
Hugo Ekitike doubled Liverpool’s advantage seconds into the new half, seemingly sealing the contest. But Bruno Guimarães headed in the 57th minute to give Newcastle hope. The St James’ Park crowd erupted again in the 88th minute when substitute William Osula poked past Alisson to level the score at 2-2.
Ngumoha’s Dream Debut
With injuries forcing at least 11 minutes of added time, Arne Slot turned to his bench. Rio Ngumoha entered six minutes into stoppage time and, just four minutes later, swept home the decisive goal. The strike came four days before his 17th birthday, making him the fourth youngest scorer in Premier League history, behind James Vaughan, James Milner, and Wayne Rooney.
“This is what makes the Premier League so special,” Liverpool manager Arne Slot said. “Every fan around the world would have enjoyed watching this game of football, also because their fans were amazing. I’m not too sure it was a football match today. It was set-piece after set-piece, long throw after long throw. We didn’t collapse and stood strong. We didn’t play well enough on the ball. I don’t think there was so much open play.”
Van Dijk Praises Rising Star
Virgil van Dijk hailed Ngumoha’s impact: “It’s a dream debut I’m very, very pleased for Rio. He has to keep working hard, to stay humble but definitely have to enjoy this, because you can’t take these nights for granted. With the players we have in the squad, I’m sure he’ll be back in a hard training session tomorrow.”
Newcastle’s Turmoil Continues
The action on the pitch overshadowed Newcastle’s off-field drama. The future of striker Alexander Isak, who wants a transfer after Liverpool’s £110 million bid was rejected, dominated pre-match discussions. Fans responded with a defiant banner: “Nothing Is Achieved Alone. We Are A City. A Whole Population.”
Despite their resilience, Newcastle ended with only one point from two games, while Liverpool maintained a perfect start.
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