Teenage thunder at the death: Ngumoha’s 100th-minute strike crowns a ferocious St James’ Park classic

Liverpool edged a breathless 3-2 over 10-man Newcastle United as 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha marked his Premier League debut with a 100th-minute winner, becoming the youngest goalscorer in the club’s history. The decisive moment arrived after Newcastle had hauled themselves back from 2-0 down despite Anthony Gordon’s first-half dismissal, only to be stung with virtually the last kick.

In a cauldron supercharged by the Alexander Isak transfer saga and the summer tussle for Hugo Ekitiké, the champions struck first through Ryan Gravenberch and doubled their lead seconds after the restart via Ekitiké. Bruno Guimarães sparked a rousing response and Will Osula made it 2-2 in the 88th minute, but Ngumoha, sent on in the 96th, swept the winner into the far corner in the 10th of 11 added minutes.

A cauldron stoked by a transfer saga

The pre-match narrative revolved around Isak’s future after Liverpool’s summer bid and Ekitiké’s decision to head to Anfield, with the temperature in the stands transmitting to the pitch. Ryan Gravenberch’s early booking for a painful challenge on Bruno Guimarães set the tone, and Anthony Gordon – deputising at centre-forward – harried Liverpool, drawing contentious free-kicks that drew protests from Arne Slot.

Newcastle’s high tempo initially rattled the visitors, but the first blow landed the other way. Ten minutes before the break, Gravenberch’s low strike from the edge of the area took a slight nick off Fabian Schär and beat an unsighted Nick Pope to put Liverpool ahead against the run of play.

The flashpoint and a ruthless restart

The contest boiled over in first-half stoppage time when Gordon lunged late into Virgil van Dijk. Referee Simon Hooper initially showed yellow, but after a VAR review upgraded it to a straight red for serious foul play. It was a reckless challenge that left Newcastle down to 10 and will cost their makeshift No 9 the next three domestic fixtures.

Within seconds of the restart – before Slot had even returned to the touchline – Ekitiké showcased the ruthlessness Newcastle have been craving. He burst beyond Sandro Tonali during the move, combined with Cody Gakpo, reacted first to the rebound when Gakpo’s effort was blocked and drilled a precise low finish past Pope for 2-0.

Ten men refuse to yield

St James’ Park refused to wilt. When Tino Livramento arced a cross into the area, Guimarães timed his run to perfection and threw himself into a diving header at the far post to halve the deficit just before the hour. For a stretch, it was Liverpool who looked jittery as the noise rose.

The home side were then undermined by attrition. Tonali departed with a painful-looking shoulder problem and Joelinton later limped off, forcing Eddie Howe to reshuffle again. Jacob Ramsey came on for his home debut, but the next telling introduction would be up front.

Osula’s punch, Ngumoha’s poise

With time ebbing away, Pope launched long, Dan Burn overwhelmed Ibrahima Konaté in the aerial duel and substitute Will Osula stretched to nick the equaliser past Alisson in the 88th minute. It was a classic St James’ Park surge, born of persistence and directness.

Liverpool looked to have squandered a certain win until substitute Ngumoha, on at 16 years and 361 days, found space at the back post and curled an assured finish beyond Pope in the 100th minute. It sealed back-to-back wins to open the champions’ title defence – despite conceding twice in both – and left Newcastle with only a point from two games and the setback of Gordon’s suspension.