A stunning late goal from 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha secured a dramatic 3-2 victory for Liverpool over Newcastle United at St James’ Park. The match, played in a fiery atmosphere amidst transfer speculation, saw Liverpool take the lead through Ryan Gravenberch before Anthony Gordon’s red card shifted the momentum. Newcastle fought back to equalize through Bruno Guimaraes and William Osula, but Ngumoha’s 100th-minute winner sealed a memorable win for the Reds and cemented his place in Premier League history.
St James’ Park witnessed a Premier League classic on Monday night, as Liverpool snatched a 3-2 victory over Newcastle United in the dying moments of the game. The match, already simmering with tension fueled by transfer speculation surrounding Alexander Isak, exploded into life with a dramatic 100th-minute winner from 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha on his Premier League debut.
The atmosphere was electric from the outset, a cauldron of noise and anticipation. Newcastle, eager to break their winless start to the season, came out firing, but Liverpool weathered the early storm. The breakthrough came in the 35th minute when Ryan Gravenberch unleashed a powerful long-range drive that found the back of the net, giving Liverpool the lead. However, the game’s complexion shifted dramatically moments later when Anthony Gordon received a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Virgil van Dijk in first-half stoppage time. The sending off left Newcastle with an uphill battle for the remainder of the contest.
Liverpool appeared to be in a commanding position just seconds into the second half. Hugo Ekitike, ironically a former Newcastle target, struck the post, narrowly missing extending Liverpool’s advantage. But Newcastle refused to surrender. Bruno Guimaraes ignited the home crowd with a well-placed header in the 57th minute, halving the deficit and injecting renewed belief into the Magpies. The hosts then laid siege to the Liverpool goal, launching wave after wave of attacks, forcing the Reds into a period of sustained defensive work.
The pressure finally told in the 88th minute. A flick-on from Dan Burn found William Osula, who expertly peeled off Ibrahima Konate and prodded the ball home, seemingly securing a hard-fought point for Newcastle. The St James’ Park faithful erupted in celebration, believing they had salvaged something from a challenging encounter.
However, the drama was far from over. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp turned to his bench, introducing Rio Ngumoha in the sixth minute of added time. What followed was a moment of pure magic. Mohamed Salah’s pass was cleverly allowed to run through the legs of Dominik Szoboszlai, finding Ngumoha in space. The teenager, with remarkable composure for his age and experience, calmly slotted the ball past Nick Pope, sparking wild scenes of jubilation amongst the Liverpool players and supporters.
The goal not only secured a vital three points for Liverpool but also etched Ngumoha’s name into Premier League history. He became the second 16-year-old to score a winning goal in the competition, following in the footsteps of Wayne Rooney, who achieved the feat for Everton against Arsenal in 2002. Remarkably, Ngumoha is one day younger than Rooney was when he scored that famous goal.
Data Debrief: Ngumoha's Historic Strike
Ngumoha’s goal also makes him the fourth-youngest goalscorer in Premier League history, trailing only James Vaughan, James Milner, and Wayne Rooney. His strike, timed at 99 minutes and 44 seconds, was the fourth-latest Premier League winner on record, and the latest since Cole Palmer’s late winner for Chelsea against Manchester United in April 2024.
With this victory, Liverpool join Tottenham and Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table, all with maximum points. Newcastle, meanwhile, are left to reflect on a frustrating evening and a continuing wait for their first win of the season. They currently sit 15th in the table, with a single point, and face a crucial period in the transfer window as they look to strengthen their squad.
16 – Rio Ngumoha is the second 16-year-old to score a winning goal in a Premier League game, after Wayne Rooney in October 2002 for Everton vs Arsenal; he is one day younger (16 years, 361 days) than Rooney was that day. Entrance. pic.twitter.com/tT7HpXNemv
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 25, 2025