Rio Ngumoha’s decisive cameo inflicts heartbreak and defeat on suffering Newcastle | OneFootball

In the 100th minute, four minutes into his Premier League debut, in the week he will turn 17, in a game when 10 men had come from 2-0 down against the champions. A wondrous moment for the wonderkid. Every aspect of it was remarkable. Rio Ngumoha became the youngest goalscorer in Liverpool’s history but his winner was so much more than that.

It was beautifully taken, for starters, curled in after a lovely dummy by Dominik Szoboszlai. It was desperately cruel on Newcastle, who had rallied wonderfully in adversity. It robbed Will Osula of his own status as the super-sub who had the final say in an extraordinary affair. Denied victory at St James’ Park by an injury-time equaliser last year, Liverpool got victory now with a still later goal. “So many things happened, it was complete chaos,” smiled Arne Slot. “We were lucky to get the win over the line.”

And it was a sequel for him. Last week Federico Chiesa was the substitute who delivered the decisive goal, also after Liverpool gave up a 2-0 lead. Like him, Ngumoha may have languished unused had Liverpool got the attacking reinforcements they wanted. Each nevertheless showed a strength in depth. Liverpool, once again, found an astonishing way to win on another night when they did not require Isak.

But it turns out Eddie Howe was wrong when he described the Isak saga as a “lose-lose” situation for Newcastle United. It became worse than that. Lose-lose-lose, perhaps, or lose-lose-lose-lose.

Newcastle lost to Liverpool, the club who have spent much of the summer trying to sign Isak. They lost with a goal from Hugo Ekitike, the striker they had hoped to sign to either partner or replace the on-strike striker. They lost Anthony Gordon, the man masquerading as a centre-forward, to a sending off borne of stupidity that will come at a further cost with a three-match ban. They lost Sandro Tonali, too, with a suspected shoulder injury and Joelinton, who departed in tears, with two-thirds of a superb midfield sidelined; Howe feared the worst for both. They lost despite a stirring, stunning comeback and what Howe called "a great performance from us”.

Newcastle could be forgiven for thinking that everything that could possibly go wrong did. The Isak saga is damaging them. Howe wants it resolved even before deadline day. “I think that is the ideal from our side. We want clarity to move forward and the narrative to change,” he said.

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Ryan Gravenberch's long ranged strike sent Liverpool into the lead (Getty Images)

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Anthony Gordon was sent off in the first half for a rash tackle on Virgil van Dijk (AFP via Getty Images)

Liverpool, meanwhile, are unharmed by the impasse, finding goals from five forwards already this season, but not the one they were willing to pay £110m for. Theirs has been a flawed start to their title defence, their capacity to lose leads glaringly apparent again, but they nevertheless took three points in a hostile environment. In a game that began in predictably fast and furious fashion and ended with the frenzy of replacements trading goals, a Liverpudlian and a Liverpool fan lost his head: but it was Gordon, the forward who was tempted to go to Anfield last year.

Perhaps he took co-owner Jamie Reuben’s pre-match tweet urging the players to get “into them” too far when he slid into Virgil van Dijk. Referee Simon Hooper had initially showed a yellow card. “It was strange he had to go to the monitor,” said Van Dijk. When Hooper did, he brandished red. The sight of the studmarks down the Liverpool captain’s calf proved persuasive.

The challenge was needless and reckless by Gordon. “I think he wanted to help too much,” said captain Bruno Guimaraes generously. Howe looked distinctly unimpressed as the forward walked off but claimed: “There is no intent from Anthony, he has gone in probably too quickly and tried to pull out and not commit any damage to Virgil.”

But Gordon’s suspension will compound Newcastle’s striker shortage. It may make it harder for them to countenance the sale of Isak or force a club who have bid for Yoane Wissa and Jorgen Strand Larsen to up their offers. “We are running out of options,” said Howe, who often points out that Newcastle have not replaced Callum Wilson; now they are without Gordon as well.

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Hugo Ekitike doubles Liverpool’s lead in the second half (REUTERS)

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Bruno Guimaraes headed Newcastle back into the contest (AFP via Getty Images)

Even before his departure, Gordon had shown some of his other shortcomings. The winger masquerading as a striker went a 16th consecutive league match without scoring and headed over from Harvey Barnes’ cross. He missed a similar chance last week at Aston Villa. “The quality of Alex, I think he would have made a difference in the two games,” said Howe.

Without Gordon, Newcastle mustered a valiant effort. “We have shown our unity and spirit,” said Howe. He was delighted by the leaders in his camp. “Those guys do make me proud,” he added. “They are entwined into Newcastle. They want to be here and want to play.” Unlike, say, Isak.

At least Newcastle, who had failed to score in their previous four league games the Swede had missed, got two goals. Guimaraes headed in Tino Livramento’s cross; Milos Kerkez, poor against Bournemouth on his Premier League debut for Liverpool, was outmuscled too easily. Liverpool’s defensive jitters continued. When Nick Pope punted the ball forward, Ibrahima Konate, shaky all night, missed his header and Osula, the one specialist striker available to Newcastle, finished calmly.

So did Liverpool, on three occasions. Ryan Gravenberch’s start to the season was delayed by paternity leave and suspension. He made a false start to the game, booked after six minutes. But, as Guimaraes stood off him, he showed a precision to drill in a shot from 20 yards, a motionless Pope watching it go in off the post.

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William Osula thought he had earned a point for Newcastle before Liverpool's late winner (Getty Images)

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16-year-old Rio Ngumoha scored the winning goal having come off the bench late in the game (Getty Images)

When he was beaten again, it was of scant consolation for Newcastle to realise they were on the right track in targeting Ekitike. The Frenchman’s third goal in as many games for Liverpool was placed past Pope, 23 seconds into the second half, so quickly Slot missed it.

Ekitike’s has been a stunning start. He became the first player since Daniel Sturridge to score in each of his first three games for Liverpool. His name rang around St James’ Park, but from the section of Liverpool fans at the top of the Leazes Stand. The Newcastle supporters had tried taunting Ekitike with the suggestion he was just a “s**t Will Osula”. If they got proof he is considerably more than that, Newcastle then saw evidence they can celebrate Osula for his own ability.

But at 22, he is a relative veteran. Ngumoha became the Premier League’s fourth youngest goalscorer, behind only James Vaughan, James Milner and Wayne Rooney. He isn’t yet old enough to drive. He was good enough to give them three points to take on the road back to Merseyside.