Rio Ngumoha’s a hundredth minute strike clinched a dramatic 3-2 victory over Newcastle United for champions Liverpool as they survived a exceptional fightback from Eddie Howe’s facet at St James’ Park.
Liverpool’s go to to the north east in a rematch of the EFL Cup closing they misplaced to the Magpies in March happened amid the backdrop of the Alexander Isak drama, with Newcastle’s star striker refusing to coach or play for the membership as he makes an attempt to pressure by a transfer to the Reds.
That saga ensured a ferocious environment on Tyneside, however Liverpool weathered a first-half storm and, after Ryan Gravenberch’s opener and Hugo Ekitike’s third purpose in as many appearances, sandwiched by Gordon’s crimson card for a reckless foul on Virgil Van Dijk, an away victory appeared the one believable end result.
However Bruno Guimaraes’ header gave Newcastle hope and William Osula seemed to have rescued some extent when the substitute, the Magpies’ solely recognised central striker in Isak’s self-imposed exile, levelled two minutes from the tip of regular time.
Accidents to Sandro Tonali, Joelinton and Fabian Schar ensured 11 minutes of harm time and, although Newcastle seemed the extra more likely to rating a winner for a lot of added time, 16-year-old Ngumoha produced a wondrous end to an excellent Liverpool transfer to safe most factors on the finish of one other basic between two sides which have produced so many.
Newcastle United v Liverpool
A fractious and frantic begin gave solution to a gap interval dominated by Newcastle. Nevertheless, as was the case of their opener at Aston Villa, struggled to reap the benefits of their superiority.
The ultimate ball was so typically missing for Newcastle and, when it got here from Harvey Barnes within the twenty eighth minute, Gordon may solely head narrowly over the crossbar.
In contrast to at Villa, Newcastle had been made to pay as Gravenberch produced a second of magic seven minutes later.
A tame curling effort Florian Wirtz had represented Liverpool’s solely shot on the right track of the half earlier than Gravenberch, returning to the facet following the start of his youngster, arrowed a low effort from the sting of the world by the legs of Guimaraes and in off the bottom of the left-hand put up.
That purpose succeeded in taking the impetus away from Newcastle, and issues acquired worse for the hosts in stoppage time when, after a pitchside overview, referee Simon Hooper deemed Gordon had dedicated critical foul play together with his ill-advised problem on Van Dijk.
Gordon’s dismissal left Newcastle with a mountain to climb and with out the person who had tried to fill the void left by Isak. Simply 30 seconds after the second-half restart, the person who may need facilitated an Isak switch to Liverpool had he joined Newcastle piled the ache on the hosts when Ekitike replicated Gravenberch in sliding an effort past Nick Pope with assistance from the woodwork.
Regardless of their numerical drawback, Newcastle discovered a lifeline out of the blue courtesy of their captain.
Liverpool did not correctly clear Tino Livramento’s lengthy throw into the field, and the full-back’s subsequent ball again into the field was turned in on the far put up by Guimaraes.
Newcastle misplaced Tonali to a shoulder challenge, and his exit was adopted by that of Joelinton a groin downside and Fabian Schar to an obvious concussion.
However the hosts refused to say die and, after Liverpool did not take care of an extended ball ahead from a free-kick, Osula seemed to have made himself an unlikely hero when he prodded past Alisson to improbably stage issues.
Newcastle spent a lot of harm time pushing to finish a surprising turnaround. Nevertheless, they had been caught out by a wonderful transfer from the guests, which was capped when Ngumoha bent past a helpless Pope to settle a breathless encounter. It’s two wins from two for Liverpool, but they depart this recreation with inquiries to reply whereas Newcastle will try and quickly draw a line below the Isak saga.
