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Newcastle heart-broken by Ngumoha in Tyneside epic

Newcastle heart-broken by Ngumoha in Tyneside epic

Will Davies
Will Davies
AUG 26, 2025

Monday night played host to a fascinating tie between Newcastle and Liverpool at St. James’ Park, replete with possible headlines. The absence of Alexander Isak amid the transfer war being waged between him and the two clubs playing, the fixture being a rematch of last season’s Carabao Cup final, and Newcastle's abysmal record in the league against Liverpool made up just some of the talking points heading into the match. What played on Tyneside out can only be described as one of the greatest games in recent Premier League history.

Lineups

Newcastle

Newcastle named an unchanged starting XI from their drab opening day draw vs Aston Villa. The main headline, of course, is the absence of star striker Alexander Isak, who has been attempting to force a move through to today’s visitors. Jacob Ramsay started on the bench, hoping to make his debut following being signed from Villa.

Liverpool

Arne Slot made two changes from Liverpool’s thrilling 4-2 victory against Bournemouth. The absence of Jeremie Frimpong through injury relocated Szoboszlai to right back, and Mac Allister dropped out, leaving the reigning champions with a new midfield of Curtis Jones and Ryan Gravenberch, the latter of which was suspended for the opening game following his sending off in the final game of last season.

First half

The game started fairly even, with both teams battling for control but neither actually winning it. Fouls were flying in, particularly from Liverpool in the early exchanges, with Gravenberch receiving a caution early on for a scissoring challenge on Guimarães. As the half settled in, Newcastle began to dominate play, winning the battle in midfield and denying Liverpool’s forwards any service. Newcastle tried a number of set-pieces, but they consistently failed to provide any threat, always either easily dealt with by the Liverpool backline or being overhit and missing everyone. Crosses came in from both sides, but Alisson claimed a number of them and the ones that he didn’t were often missed.

Gordon was central to a lot of Newcastle’s play, heading a Livramento cross just over, stretching to get on the end of a cut-back from Elanga which Alisson was well placed to collect, and forcing Konaté to pull him and receive a yellow. Konaté was also spared blushes when Tonali stole the ball from him and drove into space, playing a limp ball across towards Gordon and Elanga that Alisson was yet again first to. Newcastle were then made to pay for their profligacy, as Gravenberch took a speculative shot from distance, which drove low and took slight nicks from Schär and the goal post before nestling into the net, giving Liverpool the lead out of nothing.

Newcastle then turned a bad but manageable situation into a desperate one, as they began flying into challenges. Burn made a desperate kick towards the ball to stop a counter, only getting Salah and getting booked, before Gordon went in studs up onto Van Dijk’s calf, which was eventually deemed serious foul play by VAR, resulting in the forward being sent off. From a dominant performance, Newcastle emerged a goal and a man down, and needed some performance to get anything out of the game in the second half.

Second half

Newcastle’s hopes of staging a second-half comeback were immediately dampened, as Hugo Ekitike, one of their targets earlier in the season, hit a low shot into the net in similar fashion to Gravenberch in the first half, albeit from closer distance. The goal occurred within 20 seconds of the half beginning, catching many off-guard, including Slot, who was seen emerging from the tunnel moments after the goal went in. Newcastle proceeded to lose their heads somewhat, with captain Guimarães being booked for yelling in the referee’s face.

Following a lengthy stoppage for an injury to Tonali, Newcastle would finally find reprieve from their 30 minute nightmare, as a Livramento cross was headed in by Guimarães, who immediately sought to jeer up the crowd. They began to use their momentum, pinning Liverpool in and peppering them with set-pieces. A Trippier corner almost swerved in for an Olimpico, but Alisson punched not once but twice to clear it. Liverpool began to panic as they desperately tried to mitigate the pressure, sometimes needlessly rushing their clearances and inadvertently giving more chances to the home side.

Lewis Miley replaced Tonali, who received a shoulder injury before the goal, on the 66th minute. Liverpool are able to stabilise affairs and begin to control the ball, even if it doesn’t lead to many chances to re-establish their two-goal lead. Joelinton becomes the second injury casualty in Newcastle’s midfield, and is substituted for debutant Jacob Ramsay. They use the chance to introduce two more players, as Barnes and Trippier make way for William Osula and Lewis Hall. The physical nature of the game continues, as Schär goes down with a head injury in the Liverpool penalty area, which the referee fails to notice until play has reached the opposite end of the pitch. During this stoppage, Arne Slot makes his first changes as Conor Bradley and Federico Chiesa come on for Wirtz and Ekitike. Soon after, Malick Thiaw replaces the injured Schär to make his debut after signing from AC Milan.

Newcastle continued to prod, as Hall swung a cross in over the head of everyone. Eventually, they managed to find the final piece of their fightback, as a ball from Nick Pope was played up, bounced off the back of Konaté and right into the path on an on-running William Osula, who just managed to poke it past Alisson for a massively deserved equaliser. Despite the sucker-punch goals to make it 2-0, the red card, and the three injuries, the score is 2-2. This was far from the end of things however, with 11 minutes added on for the three goals and numerous stoppages.

As Liverpool try to hang on from the relentless onslaught of Newcastle, Slot cashes in his final changes, bringing on Harvey Elliot and 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha for Gakpo and Jones. The gamble would pay off better than Slot could ever have hoped, as the 16-year-old brought a stunning tale to a stunning end, scoring yet another goal out of nothing, curling the ball into the back of the net unmarked at the back post in the 100th minute of the game. And that would, at long, long last, mark the final plot point of a modern Premier League classic.

Man of the match

Somewhat unconventional in a game with five goals to give man of the match to a goalkeeper, but for all of their miracle-working in front of goal, Liverpool’s eventual victory would have been entirely impossible were it not for Alisson almost single-handedly seeing them through the extended periods of the game where they were under the kosh. He didn’t have many saves to make, but that is because his control of his area cut off the supply to Newcastle’s attackers before they could get shots off in the first place.

Final thoughts

A modern epic of the Premier League, rounded off by a goal from the most unlikely of sources. Newcastle will be heart-broken for the result, but their performance before Liverpool’s opener and after their second was absolutely incredible, dominating the reigning champions from front to back. Liverpool conversely will be delighted with the result, but must feel some degree of concern about the overall performance, getting dominated even when up a man and for the second week in a row throwing away a two-goal lead and needing to rely on late heroics. Things do not get any easier for Liverpool, as they host Arsenal next Sunday in what will be the first true title-race six-pointer of the season. Newcastle will have to visit newly-promoted Leeds as their search for their first victory of the season goes on.

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