Ngumoha makes dream debut, lashing in a late winner for Liverpool

Rash tackle

Newcastle's frustration got the better of Gordon, who was sent off in first-half stoppage time for a rash tackle that left stud marks down the back of Van Dijk's calf. An initial yellow card was upgraded to red by referee Simon Hooper after a VAR review.

And when Hugo Ekitike, who Newcastle had wanted to sign, possibly as a replacement for Isak, struck 20 seconds after the break with the sort of clinical side-foot finish that makes you wonder whether Liverpool even require more strikers, it looked all over for the host.

It was a curiously lethargic display by Liverpool, though, with Mohamed Salah unusually quiet. That was not something that could be said about the St James' Park faithful when Bruno Guimaraes headed past Alisson in the 57th minute.

Liverpool completely lost control of the game against the re-energized Magpies, and was punished in the 88th minute when William Osula pounced on a defensive hesitation to nip onto a long punt forward by Pope and slot home a close-range finish.

Despite being a man down and suffering injuries to Sandro Tonali, Joelinton and Fabian Schar, it looked like Newcastle might grab an unlikely win, but Ngumoha struck in fairytale fashion to make it two wins from two games for Liverpool.

It joins Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur on six points, while Newcastle, which will be desperate to settle the Isak saga before the closure of the transfer window next week, has one point from its opening two games.

"Second half we had a mountain to climb at 2-0 down with 10 men, but I thought we controlled the game," Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said. "I thought we were really good and fought our way back unbelievably well, but couldn't get over the line."

Howe opted not to comment on reports that Newcastle's Saudi hierarchy had flown in for talks with Isak in a bid to resolve a saga that has been running since Liverpool had a bid of more than 100 million pounds ($135.09 million) rejected for the player who has scored 54 goals in 86 Premier League games for Newcastle.

"We hope that we can bring players in," Howe said. "We have been trying throughout the window, especially in the forward positions."

Reuters