Credit: PA Images
Rio Ngumoha has become the youngest goal scorer in Liverpool's history, after scoring the winning goal for the Reds in a dramatic late winner at Newcastle in the Premier League.
The 16-year-old came off the bench to snatch victory deep into stoppage time as Liverpool edged past 10-man Newcastle.
Ngumoha’s intervention in the 10th minute of extra time gave Liverpool stunning 3-2 win at St James’ Park on Monday 25 August.
The attacking midfielder, who turns 17 on the 29 August, said he will not “get too carried away with all the noise” after the “crazy” feeling of scoring a dramatic late winner.
Ngumoha told TalkSPORT: “I was happy to score, I’m buzzing,”.
“I heard them screaming my name and that’s a very sensational moment.
“But you just can’t get too carried away with all the noise, because at the end of the day I probably do that finish 100 times on the training ground. So it’s no different with the fans (here).
"But the fans backing you there is just crazy.”
Who is Rio Ngumoha?
Ngumoha, originally from Newham, East London, is of Nigerian descent and entered Chelsea's academy in 2016.
He played a major part in securing Chelsea U17 victory in Premier League Cup in April 2024, scoring in the final.
Ahead of the 2024-2025 season, he made a switch to Liverpool, where head coach Arne Slot fast-tracked his development, promoting the teenager from the youth team to first-team training in late 2024.
He made his professional debut in the FA Cup against Accrington Stanley on 11 January 2025 at just 16-years-old, becoming the youngest player ever to start a first-team game for Liverpool.
With his birthday soon approaching, Liverpool are reportedly preparing to offer him his first professional contract, demonstrating their belief in his long-term potential and future at the club.
Where does his goal sit in the list of youngest Premier League scorers?
Ngumoha became the fourth-youngest goalscorer in Premier League history, at 16 years and 361 days old, with his added-time winner.
He also beat the previous youngest goal scoring record at Liverpool, beating Ben Woodburn’s goal at 17 years and 45 days old.
The youngest Premier League goal scorer was James Vaughan, aged 16 years and 270 days old, who came off the bench to make his Everton debut against Crystal Palace at Goodison Park on 10 April 2005
Ngumoha said: “I’m 16 but I don’t want my age to show that I can’t play with the older players.
“I want to prove that I can play with people not just my age, many ages above.
“People at the club are always helping me and I’m always learning and improving.
“Normally, last season especially, the Academy coaches and even the first-team coaches, are always saying, ‘Make the back post, make the back post’.
“The fact that I made the back post is just crazy…when I saw it with Mo (Salah) and then Dom (Szoboszlai) putting it through his legs, I was like one-v-one and I just smashed it.”
Ngumoha’s winner came after Liverpool had let slip a two-goal lead against 10-man Newcastle, who had Anthony Gordon sent off at the end of the first half.
He said: “The mentality is one thing that shouldn’t get overlooked.
“Being mentally strong, us coming back and really believing in ourselves, that’s what the champions are about.”