Few football nights deliver drama like this. On a tense evening at St James’ Park, Liverpool fans witnessed a debut that will be remembered for years.
Sixteen-year-old Rio Ngumoha, coming off the bench, scored a stunning 100th-minute winner to secure all three points for the Reds against Newcastle.
A Game of Shifts and Surprises
Liverpool initially looked comfortable, racing into a 2-0 lead thanks to strikes from Ryan Gravenberch and Hugo Ekitike.
A red card for Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon after a rash challenge on Virgil van Dijk seemed to tilt the match further in Liverpool’s favour.
But Newcastle fought back valiantly, with Bruno Guimaraes pulling one back and William Osula equalising in the 88th minute, leaving the visitors scrambling for a breakthrough.
Player Ratings for Newcastle
Nick Pope – 5
The England goalkeeper struggled to react to Gravenberch’s opener, rooted to the spot for the goal.
Kieran Trippier – 6
Defensively solid and energetic going forward, though his final balls often lacked precision.
Fabian Schar – 7
Crucial tackles set the tone early, though unlucky not to deflect Gravenberch’s goal.
Dan Burn – 6.5 (Booked)
Booked for a risky challenge on Salah just before half-time.
Tino Livramento – 7.5
An attacking spark, delivering a brilliant assist for Guimaraes’ goal.
Bruno Guimaraes – 8 (Booked) (MOTM)
Led by example, scoring a vital goal and rallying Newcastle after the red card.
Sandro Tonali – 7
Active early on, but Liverpool’s midfield took control later.
Joelinton – 6.5
Tough in physical duels but struggled to unlock Liverpool’s defence.
Anthony Elanga – 7
Caused constant problems with his intelligent runs.
Anthony Gordon – 5 (Sent off)
Dangerous and threatening in the first half but let the team down with a reckless tackle.
Harvey Barnes – 6.5
Created opportunities but lacked that final touch for an assist.
Substitutes & Manager
Lewis Miley, Jacob Ramsey, Lewis Hall, William Osula, Malick Thiaw all made appearances with mixed impact.
Eddie Howe, Newcastle’s manager, earned a 7 for a tactical setup that was undone by Gordon’s sending-off.
Player Ratings for Liverpool
Alisson – 7
Commanding presence, keeping Liverpool calm under pressure.
Dominik Szoboszlai – 6
Defensively solid on debut at right-back, though a daring position choice.
Ibrahima Konate – 4.5 (Booked)
Struggled, losing possession and looked shaky on Osula’s equaliser.
Virgil van Dijk – 6
Led the team well despite a dangerous tackle from Gordon.
Milos Kerkez – 6.5
Better than previous matches but could have done more to prevent Newcastle’s goal.
Ryan Gravenberch – 7 (Booked) (MOTM)
Scored a stunning goal and made a strong return to the team after missing early-season matches.
Curtis Jones – 7
Missed a chance to seal the game but delivered an overall solid performance.
Mohamed Salah – 6.5
Quiet first half but still caused problems for Newcastle’s defence.
Florian Wirtz – 5.5
First three weeks in England have been underwhelming; still adjusting.
Cody Gakpo – 7
Delivered assists and consistent performance despite new signings vying for spotlight.
Hugo Ekitike – 7
Scored Liverpool’s second, continuing an impressive start to the season.
Substitutes & Manager
Conor Bradley, Federico Chiesa, Rio Ngumoha, Harvey Elliott came off the bench; Arne Slot earned a 6 for his tactical decisions.
A Debut to Remember
While Liverpool were under pressure for much of the match, Ngumoha’s dramatic late goal ensured a perfect ending for the Reds and an unforgettable debut for the 16-year-old.
It was a night of highs and lows, red cards, equalizers, and a reminder of why football can be so thrilling — especially in the Premier League.
