Arne Slot has spoken about Liverpool's win and the tactical approach from Newcastle
Rio Ngumoha interacts with Arne Slot following the team's victory in the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Liverpool at St James' Park on August 25, 2025
(Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Liverpool boss Arne Slot admits his side were 'lucky' to come out on top against Newcastle United in a remarkable game at St James' Park.
The Magpies had been the better side for the majority of the game, only to be sunk by a 99th-minute sucker punch from Reds substitute Rio Ngumoha.
It was a dramatic end to a chaotic evening of football, played in a fervent atmosphere. Newcastle had fought back from 2-0 down with 10 men after Anthony Gordon's red card for a reckless challenge on Virgil van Dijk and looked set to leave the Gallowgate with a deserved draw.
However, with 11 minutes added on for second-half stoppage time, it was 16-year-old Ngumoha who scored the decisive goal just minutes after his introduction for a Premier League debut and Slot believes his team were the beneficiaries of some fortune on the night.
The youngster, along with Harvey Elliott, had been waiting to enter the fray for a number of minutes, with Slot having to delay their substitution as his side were pinned back from a series of throw-ins, corners and free-kicks as Newcastle piled on the pressure looking for a remarkable winner.
"We needed a goal but the best part of our game, was after we conceded the 2-2, it was also their best part," Slot said.
"They got three or four corner kicks, 15 throw-ins, 112 free kicks! Not as many as that but it felt it, and the two of them were waiting (Ngumoha and Elliott) because I couldn't bring them in because it felt like we had to defend so many.
"Virgil, Ibou Konate and Alisson helped us at set pieces and then at last after four or five minutes, I could bring the both of them in. It was of course special for Rio to score a goal in a moment like this.
"We know what that feels like, last season at Newcastle, we conceded the 3-3 on 89 minutes. Now we were lucky ones, that's how it feels. We were lucky to get the win over the line."
Slot added: "How do you sum up a game like that? It felt familiar to me, I think I have experienced a game like this once before in England, at Everton away last season, where so many things happened it was complete chaos. The fans were so loud and there for the home team and our fans tried to help as much they could.
"It was an unbelievable atmosphere and for us to stay strong in that for such a long time is worth more to us than every time we have a 4-0 or 5-0 win. This means more to me than when we play good football.
"For me, this was nothing to do with tactics or good football, it was just a great game to watch, every single second of the game, everyone was on the edge of their seat."
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