Rio Ngumoha’s 100th minute strike clinched a dramatic 3-2 victory over Newcastle United for champions Liverpool as they survived a remarkable fightback from Eddie Howe’s side at St James’ Park.
Liverpool’s visit to the north east in a rematch of the EFL Cup final they lost to the Magpies in March took place amid the backdrop of the Alexander Isak drama, with Newcastle’s star striker refusing to train or play for the club as he attempts to force through a move to the Reds.
That saga ensured a ferocious atmosphere on Tyneside, but Liverpool weathered a first-half storm and, after Ryan Gravenberch’s opener and Hugo Ekitike’s third goal in as many appearances, sandwiched by Gordon’s red card for a reckless foul on Virgil Van Dijk, an away victory appeared the only plausible outcome.
But Bruno Guimaraes’ header gave Newcastle hope and William Osula looked to have rescued a point when the substitute, the Magpies’ only recognised central striker in Isak’s self-imposed exile, levelled two minutes from the end of normal time.
Injuries to Sandro Tonali, Joelinton and Fabian Schar ensured 11 minutes of injury time and, though Newcastle looked the more likely to score a winner for much of added time, 16-year-old Ngumoha produced a wondrous finish to a superb Liverpool move to secure maximum points at the end of another classic between two sides that have produced so many.
Newcastle United v Liverpool
A fractious and frantic start gave way to an opening period dominated by Newcastle. However, as was the case in their opener at Aston Villa, struggled to take advantage of their superiority.
The final ball was so often lacking for Newcastle and, when it came from Harvey Barnes in the 28th minute, Gordon could only head narrowly over the crossbar.
Unlike at Villa, Newcastle were made to pay as Gravenberch produced a moment of magic seven minutes later.
A tame curling effort Florian Wirtz had represented Liverpool’s only shot on target of the half before Gravenberch, returning to the side following the birth of his child, arrowed a low effort from the edge of the area through the legs of Guimaraes and in off the base of the left-hand post.
That goal succeeded in taking the impetus away from Newcastle, and things got worse for the hosts in stoppage time when, after a pitchside review, referee Simon Hooper deemed Gordon had committed serious foul play with his ill-advised challenge on Van Dijk.
Gordon’s dismissal left Newcastle with a mountain to climb and without the man who had attempted to fill the void left by Isak. Just 30 seconds after the second-half restart, the man who might have facilitated an Isak transfer to Liverpool had he joined Newcastle piled the pain on the hosts when Ekitike replicated Gravenberch in sliding an effort beyond Nick Pope with the aid of the woodwork.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Newcastle found a lifeline out of the blue courtesy of their captain.
Liverpool failed to properly clear Tino Livramento’s long throw into the box, and the full-back’s subsequent ball back into the box was turned in at the far post by Guimaraes.
Newcastle lost Tonali to a shoulder issue, and his exit was followed by that of Joelinton a groin problem and Fabian Schar to an apparent concussion.
But the hosts refused to say die and, after Liverpool failed to deal with a long ball forward from a free-kick, Osula looked to have made himself an unlikely hero when he prodded beyond Alisson to improbably level matters.
Newcastle spent much of injury time pushing to complete a stunning turnaround. However, they were caught out by an excellent move from the visitors, which was capped when Ngumoha bent beyond a helpless Pope to settle a breathless encounter. It’s two wins from two for Liverpool, yet they leave this game with questions to answer while Newcastle will attempt to soon draw a line under the Isak saga.
