LIVERPOOL CAPTAIN VIRGIL van Dijk said the hard work has only just begun for 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha after his dramatic winning goal rescued the Premier League champions in a 3-2 victory at Newcastle.
Ngumoha became the club’s youngest ever goalscorer on his debut after coming off the bench to net in the 100th minute at a frenzied St James’ Park on Monday.
Liverpool had led 2-0 against 10 men thanks to goals from Ryan Gravenberch and Hugo Ekitike, either side of Anthony Gordon’s red card.
Newcastle were fuelled all night by a sense of anger over Liverpool’s pursuit of their star striker Alexander Isak, who was absent due to his desire to leave the club.
The Magpies battled back despite their numerical disadvantage through goals from Bruno Guimaraes and William Osula.
But Ngumoha, who impressed in pre-season for the Reds, finished off a fine Liverpool move deep into stoppage time to make it two wins from two games of their title defence.
“It’s a dream debut for him,” said Van Dijk.
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“I’m very pleased for Rio, I’ve said it to him already it all starts now, he has to keep working hard and stay humble but definitely have to enjoy this because these nights, you can’t take them for granted if you’re in his position.
“I’m sure with the players we have he will be back in training and having a hard session tomorrow again.”
Van Dijk said the stand-off between the clubs over Isak’s future had poured “oil on the fire” of an already typically ferocious atmosphere at St James’ Park.
“We all know it’s a difficult place to come. We know there was a lot of oil on the fire this week to get Newcastle fired up,” added the Dutch defender.
“What happened tonight was expected and, for us, the disappointing part was that we conceded two set pieces. That shouldn’t happen but overall great three points.”
file-photo-dated-15-08-2025-of-file-photo-dated-05-02-2025-of-newcastle-uniteds-alexander-isak-newcastle-have-insisted-alexander-isak-was-never-told-he-could-leave-this-summer-in-response-to-the-wanAlexander Isak: Howe calls for 'clarity' on Isak's future. Alamy Stock PhotoAlamy Stock Photo
Defeat leaves Newcastle with just one point from their opening two games and with a striker problem to resolve before the window closes in a week’s time, unless Isak can be convinced to return to Eddie Howe’s squad.
“I think a great performance form the players, both first and second half in very different ways,” said Howe, who also called for “clarity” on Isak’s future.
“First half we thought we dominated the game. we were in a great place with just the goal missing. Second half we had a mountain to climb at 2-0 down with 10 men but I thought we controlled the game.
“I thought we were really good and fought our way back unbelievably well but couldn’t get over the line to get a point.”
Opposite number Arne Slot was delighted to emerge from a remarkable game with three points, but admitted his side had been lucky to get them.
Asked about Ngumoha’s last-gasp winner, he said: “It’s of course special for him to score a goal in a moment like this.
“We know how it feels – last season, we conceded [at Newcastle] in the 89th minute, and now we were the lucky ones because that’s what we were. We were lucky to get a win over the line.
“This means more to me than when we play good football because tonight had, for me, nothing to do with tactics or good football. It was just a great game to watch, but not because of tactics or good football, but because every single second of the game, everybody was at the front of their seat.”
– © AFP 2025
Additional reporting from Press Association