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

NEWCASTLE, England — The future of absent Alexander Isak dominated the build-up to Newcastle United's clash at home to Liverpool, but the Swede was temporarily forgotten in a rip-roaring contest that ended 3-2 to the reigning champion thanks to a stoppage-time winner by teenage Premier League debutant Rio Ngumoha.

Isak's desire to leave Newcastle, with Liverpool his destination of choice, guaranteed a boisterous St James' Park atmosphere, and it seemed like Arne Slot's men had buckled in the Tyneside pressure cooker, as they threw away a flattering 2-0 lead against a side reduced to 10 men via Anthony Gordon's first-half red card.

But, 16-year-old Ngumoha broke Newcastle hearts shortly after coming off the bench, lashing in the winner with a first-time right-foot shot in the 10th minute of stoppage time, becoming Liverpool's youngest ever scorer and the fourth youngest in Premier League history.

"This is also what makes the Premier League special," said Slot.

"Maybe it wasn't the best game in terms of tactics or in terms of playing football, but I think every fan everywhere around the world enjoyed watching this game."

It was a sickening blow for Newcastle, which was again without outcast striker Isak, but which began the game in superb fashion.

Even when the red mist and fate had dealt the team multiple blows, it still showed great resilience to fight back, but it all counted for nothing in the end.

"We know there was a lot of oil on the fire this week to get Newcastle fired up," Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk said.

"I enjoy these type of atmospheres, so I was really looking forward to it, but we could've made it easier. We gave them the boost and the feeling and the drive with the fans behind them, but we managed to get the three points and move on."

Liverpool had been forced to soak up Newcastle pressure for half an hour and had made little headway, before taking the lead completely against the run of play when Ryan Gravenberch cut in from the left and fired a low driving effort just inside Nick Pope's post in the 35th minute.

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