Liverpool left it late very late as teenage debutant Rio Ngumoha struck in the 100th minute to down 10-man Newcastle, before boss Arne Slot gave a frank assessment of his team’s performance.
16-year-old Ngumoha came off the bench to snatch victory deep into stoppage time as Premier League champions Liverpool edged past 10-man Newcastle United on a night of high drama at St James’ Park.
The teenager announced himself with a 100th-minute winner on his debut, sealing a 3-2 triumph for Arne Slot’s side after Newcastle had threatened to complete an unlikely comeback.
But afterwards, the Reds boss was quick to admit his team were the beneficiaries of good fortune, confessing his side had been “lucky” to escape St James’ Park with all three points.
Liverpool arrived on Tyneside looking to back up their opening-day win over Bournemouth, but what unfolded was a contest that swung from one extreme to the other.
Ryan Gravenberch gave the visitors the lead on 35 minutes, finishing coolly past Nick Pope. But Newcastle’s fiery approach cost them dearly just before half-time, when Anthony Gordon was sent off for a reckless challenge on Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk.
The winger, initially shown yellow by referee Simon Hooper, saw his punishment upgraded to a red card following VAR intervention. His studs-down-the-calf challenge left Van Dijk writhing on the turf and Newcastle facing an uphill battle with 10 men.
If anything, though, the dismissal spurred on Eddie Howe’s side.
When Hugo Ekitike doubled Liverpool’s advantage shortly after the restart, it seemed the points were secure. Yet, Newcastle roared back with remarkable defiance.
Bruno Guimaraes halved the deficit with a smart finish, and substitute Will Osula stunned the travelling Kop by forcing home an equaliser to make it 2-2 in the closing stages.
St James’ Park was bouncing, the home fans scenting one of their great nights under the lights. Liverpool, pinned back and nervy, looked vulnerable to an improbable defeat.
And that, Slot admitted, was when luck played its part.
“We were lucky.
We needed a goal but the best part of our game was after we conceded the 2-2. It was also their best part.
They got three or four corner kicks, 15 throw-ins, 112 free kicks! Not as many as that but it felt it, and the two of them [Ngumoha and Harvey Elliott] were waiting because I couldn’t bring them in because it felt like we had to defend so many.”
Virgil, Konate and Alisson helped us at set pieces and then at last after four or five minutes, I could bring the both of them in. It was of course special for Rio to score a goal in a moment like this.
We know what that feels like — last season at Newcastle, we conceded the 3-3 on 89 minutes. Now we were the lucky ones, that’s how it feels. We were lucky to get the win over the line.”
And what a way to win it. Introduced late on for his Premier League debut, Ngumoha showed nerves of steel when the ball broke his way deep into stoppage time. With one swing of his right boot, he arrowed a low strike beyond Nick Pope and into the net, sparking wild celebrations among the Liverpool players and travelling fans.
It was the kind of moment Liverpool supporters will not forget in a hurry the coronation of another academy talent on one of the grandest stages.
For Slot, it was also proof of his side’s resilience in adversity.
“How do you sum up a game like that? It felt familiar to me. I think I have experienced a game like this once before in England, at Everton away last season, where so many things happened – it was complete chaos. The fans were so loud and there for the home team and our fans tried to help as much as they could.
It was an unbelievable atmosphere and for us to stay strong in that for such a long time is worth more to us than every time we have a 4-0 or 5-0 win. This means more to me than when we play good football.
For me, this was nothing to do with tactics or good football, it was just a great game to watch. Every single second of the game, everyone was on the edge of their seat.”
The Magpies, despite Gordon’s costly dismissal, played with spirit and almost pulled off a famous comeback. But the champions found a way, their blend of grit, experience, and youthful sparkle delivering a second straight league win.
As Van Dijk led his players to the away end at full-time, bruised but victorious, Liverpool could reflect on another night of drama on Tyneside one they emerged from, by their own manager’s admission, just a little lucky.
