NEWCASTLE 2-3 LIVERPOOL: Rio Ngumoha became Liverpool’s youngest-ever Premier League goalscorer as the 16-year-old scored a dramatic late winner against Newcastle
There have been some epic encounters between these two in recent times. But this will go down in football folklore as an all-time, unforgettable Premier League classic.
The red-hot atmosphere in St James’s Park produced an incredible rollercoaster of drama all decided by a 16-year-old, the youngest hero and goalscorer in Liverpool’s history. Liverpool supersub Rio Ngumoha, who does not turn 17 until Friday, grabbed the 110th-minute winner to send Arne Slot, his players and the travelling fans wild.
What an incredible conclusion to a real blood and thunder night which swung this way and that and owed so much to the bravery and heart of Newcastle’s heroic 10-man effort. Newcastle forward Anthony Gordon was sent off just before half time after losing his head as he raked his studs down Virgil van Dijk’s ankle.
At that stage, Newcastle were already 1-0 down and now down to ten men. When Hugo Ekitike made it 2-0 23 seconds into the second half, it looked like a lost cause for Newcastle.
But that would be writing off the passion and determination in St James’s Park and this was a night when the crowd carried the team – together with a brilliant captain’s performance from Bruno Guimaraes – to an incredible fightback.
READ MORE: Liverpool wonderkid Rio Ngumoha, 16, hits last-gasp winner in Newcastle thriller – 5 talking pointsREAD MORE: Premier League issue explanation as Anthony Gordon sent off by VAR in Liverpool clash
We thought it would be Will Osula who would be the hero for his 88th-minute equaliser but the story still had another amazing chapter. And to think, this was all built as the Alexander Isak grudge clash after the transfer saga of the summer. Alex who? Honestly, by the end, no-one was talking about him.
It was all about the glory of the game, the heroes, the crowd and the fightback. What an astonishing match. If there is a better game all season, then it will have to be something special.
It also underlined the character and fight of Slot’s champions as they are determined to fight to hold onto their Premier League crown. They still have flaws and weaknesses – Ibrahima Konate had another shaky night – and they still look a work in progress. But they will take some stopping this season.
Liverpool had to survive a red-hot start and few deserve more credit than Dominik Szoboszlai who filled in bravely at right back and gave everything. They hung on and then took the lead against the run of play.
Ryan Gravenberch’s low shot took a deflection off Fabian Schar’s foot and crept inside Nick Pope’s post. Gordon got his marching orders after referee Simon Hooper checked his VAR screen and it was all against Newcastle.
It got even worse when Ekitike, the French striker who turned down Newcastle to join Liverpool raced across the opposition box before unleashing a low shot which made it 2-0. But Newcastle roared back.
Tino Livramento’s cross picked out Guimaraes, the brilliant Brazil midfielder climbed above Milos Kerkez and headed home. That gave Newcastle hope – and the will to win. On came the substitutes as Jacob Ramsey came on for his debut and Osula with him.
Pope’s long clearance turned the Liverpool defence, Osula raced through and poked it into the net to send the whole stadium wild as it went to 2-2. But still we were not finished as Liverpool poured forward.
The ball carried through to Ngumoha and he curled a stunning shot into the far corner. Incredible. It has been a remarkable weekend for wonder kids after Arsenal’s Max Dowman made his debut at 15.
But the travelling Liverpool faithful now have their own hero. Liverpool poached him from Chelsea but now he is a Red and is living up to the teenage hype. And he is clearly worth it. He dazzled in pre-season and is now delivering on the biggest stage.
What a night. This is what English football and the Premier League is all about. Fabulous and unforgettable.
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