Liverpool edge Newcastle in stoppage-time thriller

WEB DESK: St James’ Park witnessed another classic between Newcastle United and Liverpool, a clash now defined as much by off-field tension as by on-pitch drama.

Liverpool’s 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha delivered the decisive moment, scoring in the 100th minute to become the club’s youngest ever goalscorer and snatch a 3-2 win. His late strike capped a night of chaos that showed why this rivalry is fast becoming one of the Premier League’s most bitter.

The backdrop was combustible even before kick-off. Liverpool’s pursuit of Newcastle’s star striker Alexander Isak, unsettling him with a £110m bid against the Magpies’ £150m valuation, has infuriated fans. To make matters worse, Liverpool had already hijacked Newcastle’s interest in Hugo Ekitike, signing him from Eintracht Frankfurt for £70m. He was loudly jeered when his name was announced.

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On the pitch, Newcastle set about Liverpool with ferocious energy, spurred on by a banner urging them to “Get Into Them”. But their aggression spilled over when Anthony Gordon, playing as an emergency striker in Isak’s absence, lunged recklessly into Virgil van Dijk. After a VAR review, he was shown a red card, leaving Newcastle with ten men and further depleting Eddie Howe’s options.

Liverpool had already gone ahead through Ryan Gravenberch and doubled their lead seconds into the second half. Yet instead of folding, Newcastle fought back. Captain Bruno Guimaraes halved the deficit before substitute Will Osula equalised in the 88th minute, sending the home crowd into delirium.

Just when a famous comeback looked possible, Ngumoha struck deep into stoppage time, writing his name into Liverpool folklore while plunging St James’ Park into stunned silence.

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For Liverpool, the win disguised defensive vulnerabilities. Ibrahima Konate struggled, Florian Wirtz has yet to settle, and coach Arne Slot may still push for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi before the transfer window shuts.

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For Newcastle, the immediate concern is how to navigate Gordon’s suspension and the unresolved Isak saga. With their star striker unsettled and their fans unforgiving, Howe faces difficult choices. What is certain is that this rivalry, inflamed by transfer battles and fuelled by unforgettable nights like this, shows no sign of cooling.

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Web Desk