Liverpool’s visit to Newcastle promised to be a thriller for a variety of reasons, not least because of the Alexander Isak transfer saga rumbling on in the background, and it more than lived up to its billing. A topsy-turvy five-goal thriller was decided in the 100th minute by a sweet curling effort from 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha, whose strike neutered an incredible comeback from the ten-man Geordies.
They had started the game on top, totally dominant in the face of the Premier League champions, but the momentum was flipped on its head as Ryan Gravenberch opened the scoring against the run of play after 35 minutes. Misery compounded for those in black-and-white as Anthony Gordon was sent off for an inexplicably rash tackle on Virgil van Dijk in first-half injury time.
Hugo Ekitike made it two for Liverpool seconds after half-time, before Bruno Guimaraes and Will Osula were both on target to draw Newcastle level and tee up eleven thrilling minutes of added time. But Ngumoha, introduced in place of Cody Gakpo, smashed his shot home emphatically after just four minutes of play to spare Liverpool’s blushes. Catch up with the action as it happened below with our dedicated live blog!
Newcastle vs Liverpool latest news
- GOAL! Ngumoha hits certain winner
- GOAL! Osula equalises late on
- GOAL! Guimaraes pulls one back
- GOAL! Ekitike makes it two inmmediately after half-time
- RED CARD! Gordon dismissed for needless Van Dijk challenge
- GOAL! Gravenberch stuns Newcastle
- Kick off: 8pm BST, St James' Park
FULL TIME: Newcastle 2-3 Liverpool
22:05 , Arthur FerridgeNgumoha’s 100th-minute strike seals all three points for Liverpool. What a remarkable match.
Newcastle 2-3 Liverpool
22:05 , Arthur Ferridge90+14mins: But first, handbags. Bruno and Gravenberch are at odds.
Newcastle 2-3 Liverpool
22:04 , Arthur Ferridge90+13mins: Alisson clears his lines, and that really should be that.
Newcastle 2-3 Liverpool
22:04 , Arthur Ferridge90+12mins: Newcastle have a deep free kick and everyone is in the box for it - they win a corner.
GOAL! Newcastle 2-3 Liverpool
22:01 , Arthur Ferridge90+10mins: Heartbreak for Newcastle! They did all they could, but Rio Ngumoha lashes home to break their hearts.
Newcastle 2-2 Liverpool
22:01 , Arthur Ferridge90+9mins: Not long left now. Is there one last goal in this match?
Newcastle 2-2 Liverpool
21:58 , Arthur Ferridge90+7mins: Liverpool enjoying a spell on the ball here. Doesn’t look like Newcastle have much left in the tank.
Newcastle 2-2 Liverpool
21:57 , Arthur Ferridge90+6mins: Rio Ngumoha comes on to make his Premier League debut. That is Arne Slot rolling the dice.
Newcastle 2-2 Liverpool
21:55 , Arthur Ferridge90+5mins: Livramento wins another corner!
Newcastle 2-2 Liverpool
21:55 , Arthur Ferridge90+4mins: Dan Burn seems to be playing at striker now.
Newcastle 2-2 Liverpool
21:54 , Arthur Ferridge90+3mins: Salah clears, Newcastle come straight back.
Newcastle 2-2 Liverpool
21:53 , Arthur Ferridge90+3mins: Burn flicks one into the six-yard box and there was a black-and-white shirt there to fire home, but Alisson gets there just in time. Corner now.
Newcastle 2-2 Liverpool
21:52 , Arthur Ferridge90mins: 11 minutes of added time! Its Newcastle’s game to win!
Newcastle 2-2 Liverpool
21:51 , Arthur Ferridge90mins: Elanga wins a corner for Newcastle.
Newcastle 2-2 Liverpool
21:50 , Arthur Ferridge89mins: They couldn’t, could they?
GOAL! Newcastle 2-2 Liverpool
21:49 , Arthur Ferridge87mins: OSULA EQUALISES! Remarkable for Newcastle! Liverpool take up a ridiculously high line as they defend a Newcastle free kcik, and Osula streaks in behind to poke past Alisson.
Newcastle 1-2 Liverpool
21:47 , Arthur Ferridge86mins: Osula takes down Curtis Jones.
Newcastle 1-2 Liverpool
21:45 , Arthur Ferridge84mins: Newcastle break again and Hall dishes a cross into the area, but it is well beyond Osula.
Newcastle 1-2 Liverpool
21:43 , Arthur Ferridge82mins: Liverpool seem content to just see this one out.
Newcastle 1-2 Liverpool
21:42 , Arthur Ferridge81mins: Schar is replaced by Thiaw.
Newcastle 1-2 Liverpool
21:42 , Arthur Ferridge81mins: Burn turns Salah to get the crowd on their feet.
Newcastle 1-2 Liverpool
21:41 , Arthur Ferridge80mins: Wirtz and Ekitike are the men replaced for Liverpool.
Newcastle 1-2 Liverpool
21:40 , Arthur Ferridge78mins: As Schar is attended to, Conor Bradley and Federico Chiesa are being readied to come on for Liverpool.
Newcastle 1-2 Liverpool
21:39 , Arthur Ferridge77mins: Play is stopped as Fabian Schar is down with a head injury. Alisson waved the physios on before play stopped - this looks to be serious.
Newcastle 1-2 Liverpool
21:37 , Arthur Ferridge75mins: Joelinton hobbles off to be replaced by debutant Jacob Ramsey.
Lewis Hall and Will Osula also come on in place of Kieran Trippier and Harvey Barnes.
Newcastle 1-2 Liverpool
21:34 , Arthur Ferridge73mins: Eddie Howe does not want to see this. Joelinton is down after an awkward challenge now, and holding his groin.
Newcastle 1-2 Liverpool
21:33 , Arthur Ferridge71mins: Liverpool seem to have weathered the storm which followed Bruno’s effort. They are making the most of their man advantage now, passing around and slowing the match down to limit the Geordie chaos factor.
Newcastle 1-2 Liverpool
21:28 , Arthur Ferridge66mins: Newcastle, still a man down I may remind you, are heaping the pressure on Liverpool and have just gone close again.
Newcastle 1-2 Liverpool
21:27 , Arthur Ferridge66mins: Tonali is withdrawn for Lewis Miley.
Newcastle 1-2 Liverpool
21:26 , Arthur Ferridge65mins: Schar is adamant he is owed a penalty after he was tripped by Gakpo in the area, but Simon Hooper is uninterested.
Newcastle 1-2 Liverpool
21:25 , Arthur Ferridge64mins: Joelinton’s cross demands intervention from Alisson, who can’t quite clear his lines but he does so at the second time of asking.
Newcastle 1-2 Liverpool
21:22 , Arthur Ferridge61mins: Tonali is down clutching his shoulder again...
Newcastle 1-2 Liverpool
21:21 , Arthur Ferridge60mins: Suddenly, all the momentum is with ten-man Newcastle!
GOAL! Newcastle 1-2 Liverpool
21:18 , Arthur Ferridge57mins: Newcastle pull one back from nowhere! Livramento whips one in to Guimaraes and he heads it into the bottom right corner. We have a game on our hands!
Newcastle 0-2 Liverpool
21:17 , Arthur Ferridge56mins: Tonali trots back on after receiving treatment.
Newcastle 0-2 Liverpool
21:16 , Arthur Ferridge55mins: Tonali leaves the pitch, but does seem to be able to continue.
Newcastle 0-2 Liverpool
21:14 , Arthur Ferridge53mins: To make matters worse for Newcastle, Tonali looks to be in considerable pain, clutching his left shoulder.
Newcastle 0-2 Liverpool
21:13 , Arthur Ferridge51mins: Salah’s cross-field pass to Gakpo misses the mark and is out for a throw.
Newcastle 0-2 Liverpool
21:11 , Arthur Ferridge50mins: Liverpool are very much in gear now. You could see this turning into a bit of a bloodbath.
Newcastle 0-2 Liverpool
21:10 , Arthur Ferridge49mins: It seems Arne Slot missed Ekitike’s goal as he too hadn’t made it back to the bench yet.
Newcastle 0-2 Liverpool
21:09 , Arthur Ferridge48mins: Guimaraes is booked for dissent.
GOAL! Newcastle 0-2 Liverpool
21:07 , Arthur Ferridge46mins: EKITIKE SCORES IMMEDIATELY! MISERY COMPOUNDS FOR NEWCASTLE!
Eddie Howe and Jason Tindall haven’t even made it back to their seats yet! Ekitike picks up the ball on halfway and drives forward. He finds Gakpo, whose blocked shot falls for the Frenchman to finish.
2ND HALF: Newcastle 0-1 Liverpool
21:06 , Arthur FerridgeBack underway! How do Newcastle handle this?
HALF TIME: Newcastle 0-1 Liverpool
20:51 , Arthur FerridgeAfter starting so brightly, Newcastle are down a goal and down a man.
Oh, to be a fly on the wall in Eddie Howe’s half-time team-talk.
Newcastle 0-1 Liverpool
20:50 , Arthur Ferridge45+5mins: We are now into out fifth minute of the two added.
RED CARD! Newcastle 0-1 Liverpool
20:47 , Arthur Ferridge45+2mins: Gordon is dismissed! He catches Van Dijk high on the back of his calf. He is nowhere near the ball and it is studs up. Newcastle are down to ten. What a disaster for the hosts.
Newcastle 0-1 Liverpool
20:47 , Arthur Ferridge45mins: Meanwhile, the fourth official lets us know there are two added minutes. May well be more after this review.
Newcastle 0-1 Liverpool
20:46 , Arthur Ferridge45mins: Hooper heads to the monitor...
Newcastle 0-1 Liverpool
20:46 , Arthur Ferridge45mins: Gordon clatters through the back of Van Dijk in a particularly late, unneeded challenge. There are handbags across the pitch. Gordon is booked, but VAR are investigating and I would not be surprised if Gordon sees red.
Newcastle 0-1 Liverpool
20:44 , Arthur Ferridge44mins: Guimaraes breaks and lofts one out wide to Barnes in spite of Elanga’s blazing run on the right. The decision making hasn’t quite been there for Newcastle tonight.
Burn is shown a yellow card for a clumsy late foul on Salah.
Newcastle 0-1 Liverpool
20:42 , Arthur Ferridge42mins: Another huge Liverpool chance on the break as Salah fizzes one in for Jones, who just misreads it. Ekitike, then, can’t sweep up at the back post.
Newcastle 0-1 Liverpool
20:41 , Arthur Ferridge42mins: Also unsurprisingly, it has been all LIverpool since Gravenberch’s opener. Newcastle have had the rug pulled out from under them, and, while the crowd are still in full voice, the players look a bit breathless.
Newcastle 0-1 Liverpool
20:40 , Arthur Ferridge41mins: Despite leading, Arne Slot still does not look best pleased with this Liverpool performance. Not surprising, really.
Newcastle 0-1 Liverpool
20:39 , Arthur Ferridge39mins: Gordon flicks posession to Tonali on the edge of the box but his snapshot is blocked. Elanga responds with a cross and Szoboszlai heads behind for a corner.
Newcastle 0-1 Liverpool
20:37 , Arthur Ferridge37mins: Newcastle really need a response here. That goal is a slap in the face after they’ve dominated the game so far. They’ll be furious not to have scored with one of their many chances in the opening half hour.
GOAL! Newcastle 0-1 Liverpool
20:35 , Arthur Ferridge35mins: Gravenberch opens the scoring with a SCORCHER against the run of play! It has been all Newcastle so far, but Gravenberch gets on the ball at the corner of the box and has a pop. It catches Nick Pope wrong footed and sneaks in at the bottom left corner.
Newcastle 0-0 Liverpool
20:34 , Arthur Ferridge34mins: Liverpool again staying extremely patient in posession, which is minimal, but they are doing a good job of stemming the Newcastle flow. Szoboszlai looks to ping one cross-field to Gakpo, but misses the mark and Newcastle are back in posession.
Newcastle 0-0 Liverpool
20:32 , Arthur Ferridge32mins: How is this still 0-0? Newcastle have had no cutting edge in attack. Tonali picks Konate’s pocket and drives at goal, but his pass is very, very poor. He has Gordon and Elanga in support, but finds only Alisson.
Newcastle 0-0 Liverpool
20:30 , Arthur Ferridge30mins: Alisson doing his best to slow the match down. Not time wasting, per se, but he is certainly giving his teammates some room to breathe.
Newcastle 0-0 Liverpool
20:29 , Arthur Ferridge29mins: Gordon spins Konate again to set Newcastle on the offensive. Elanga squares it back to him but his connection is not quite as firm as he’d have liked, and Alisson gets down to it. A breakthrough must be coming...
Newcastle 0-0 Liverpool
20:28 , Arthur Ferridge28mins: Barnes hits a wonderful ball into Gordon, who leaps to meet it and heads narrowly over. That is by far the best chance of the match so far, which isn’t saying a huge amount, but that could easily have been 1-0. A let-off for Liverpool.
Newcastle 0-0 Liverpool
20:27 , Arthur Ferridge27mins: Trippier’s cross again goes uncollected, in spite of Bruno’s attempted bicycle kick. Roof would have come off if that shot was on target, you can be sure, but he didn’t manage to connect with it.
Newcastle 0-0 Liverpool
20:26 , Arthur Ferridge26mins: That is a very, very smart turn from Gordon to get around Konate, who grabs the makeshift striker by the collar and hauls him off the ball. He is shown the second booking of the evening, and it is another free-kick for Newcastle.
Newcastle 0-0 Liverpool
20:24 , Arthur Ferridge24mins: The referee has been extremely busy in the opening quarter of this match, meaning there is not even a slight semblance of a rhythm or a tempo in the tie. It can’t go on like this, can it? Who cracks first?
Newcastle 0-0 Liverpool
20:23 , Arthur Ferridge22mins: Trippier’s first-time cross is gratefully collected by Alisson. Again. It is another sweet build-up move from the Magpies, though. They have massively outshone the visitors thus far.
Newcastle 0-0 Liverpool
20:21 , Arthur Ferridge21mins: Another half-chance for Newcastle as Livramento steams down the left flank to overlap Barnes, but his cut-back is caught by Alisson.
Newcastle 0-0 Liverpool
20:20 , Arthur Ferridge20mins: Trippier’s free-kick is over everyone’s heads and into Alisson’s hands.
Newcastle 0-0 Liverpool
20:19 , Arthur Ferridge19mins: Van Dijk is giving Simon Hooper a piece of his mind after Newcastle are awarded a free-kick for Salah’s barge on Livramento. The Geordie goes down easily, in fairness, and Salah looks bemused with the decision.
Newcastle 0-0 Liverpool
20:17 , Arthur Ferridge17mins: Tonali’s cross is, for lack of a better word, dreadful.
Newcastle 0-0 Liverpool
20:16 , Arthur Ferridge16mins: Elanga gets in behind and pulls a lovely cross back over the penalty shot, but nobody can finish it. Anthony Gordon gets on the ball and dribbles away from goal, but Szoboszlai takes him down from behind to win a dangerous free-kick.
Newcastle 0-0 Liverpool
20:15 , Arthur Ferridge15mins: The game seems to be settling somewhat after a frenetic opening period. Newcastle are looking to keep the ball on the floor rather than just pumping it long. Their latest move forward is intricate, but ends with a poor cross from Guimaraes.
Newcastle 0-0 Liverpool
20:14 , Arthur Ferridge14mins: Schar’s loose ball out from the back finds Ekitike and subsequently Wirtz, whose shot is saved by Pope without issue.
Newcastle 0-0 Liverpool
20:13 , Arthur Ferridge13mins: Guimaraes plays a gorgeous slide-rule pass to Elanga, but Alisson is quick off his line to sweep it away.
Newcastle 0-0 Liverpool
20:12 , Arthur Ferridge12mins: Ekitike is the next Liverpool player to be subject to verbals after he snubbed a move to St James Park earlier this summer.
Newcastle 0-0 Liverpool
20:11 , Arthur Ferridge11mins: A deafening round of boos as Alisson takes his time over a goal kick.
Newcastle 0-0 Liverpool
20:10 , Arthur Ferridge10mins: Alisson is caught out momentarily by Anthony Gordon’s press, but he manages to clear his lines with some semblance of composure.
Newcastle 0-0 Liverpool
20:08 , Arthur Ferridge8mins: Guimaraes is caught from behind by Gravenberch, who is booked for his troubles. He catches him high and late, and it seems an awkward fall for the Brazilian, but he will play on. Doubt that’ll be the last time we see the yellow card this evening.
Newcastle 0-0 Liverpool
20:07 , Arthur Ferridge7mins: Trippier hauls down Ekitike. Not even ten minutes played, and you’d already think he’s on thin ice. Can’t be more than one or two more fouls away from a booking.
Newcastle 0-0 Liverpool
20:05 , Arthur Ferridge5mins: Trippier takes Wirtz out with a late challenge. We were promised crunching hits in this match, and so far it is living up to its billing.
Newcastle 0-0 Liverpool
20:04 , Arthur Ferridge4mins: Burn hoofs one long up to Elanga, but Liverpool deal with it easily. They look to come back through Wirtz, but the German is dispossessed by Tonali. Schar looks for Trippier in the corner, but overhits his pass.
Newcastle 0-0 Liverpool
20:02 , Arthur Ferridge2mins: Joelinton challenges Cody Gakpo with a raised boot, and Simon Hooper already looks to be considering going to his pocket.
Newcastle 0-0 Liverpool
20:01 , Arthur Ferridge1min: Elanga wins an early corner for the Mags.
Newcastle 0-0 Liverpool
20:01 , Arthur Ferridge1min: Barely ten seconds played and Dan Burn heads a long ball away to a massive cheer from the home support.
KICK-OFF! Newcastle 0-0 Liverpool
20:00 , Arthur FerridgeThe Alexander Isak derby is underway!
Here come the players
19:56 , Arthur FerridgeThe squads are out at St James’ Park, and the atmosphere is raucous.
Fans send a pointed message to Isak
19:54 , Arthur FerridgeA display in the stands has sent a very, very, clear message to Alexander Isak, who remains on strike as he looks to force a move to Liverpool.
The banner reads: “Nothing is achieved alone. We are a city. A whole population. We are Newcastle United.”
Reminder of tonight's squads
19:45 , Arthur FerridgeWith 15 minutes to kick-off, here is a reminder of tonight’s starting line-ups.
Newcastle starting XI: Pope; Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento; Guimaraes, Joelinton, Tonali; Barnes, Elanga, Gordon
Liverpool starting XI: Alisson; Szoboszlai, Van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez; Jones, Gravenberch, Wirtz; Salah, Ekitike, Gakpo
Can Trippier handle Gakpo?
19:37 , Arthur FerridgeCody Gakpo is another Liverpool star who has started the season on top form. He lines up opposite Kieran Trippier this evening.
Now 34, Trippier will have his work cut out for him as he looks to keep the young Dutchman quiet.
Lewis Hall is on the bench, waiting patiently for his chance to come in and remind Eddie Howe what he is capable of.
Mo Salah is having a big week
19:35 , Arthur FerridgeMo Salah became the first footballer to be named PFA Player of the Year three times earlier this week.
Speaking afterwards, he said he expected Arsenal to win the Premier League this season.
He said: "I think [Arsenal] have a great team this season as you did last season. So, you have really good chance.
"I think you are the favourite now because you players who have been together for five years.
“I can’t say I’ll wish you luck – hopefully we do it again."
Can Ekitike continue his form?
19:25 , Arthur FerridgeEkitike has been on remarkable form since joining Liverpool from Eintracht Frankfurt this summer.
He managed a goal and an assist last time out as the Reds battled to opening day victory over Bournemouth.
Can he continue his form tonight?
Eddie Howe asked for an Isak update
19:19 , Arthur FerridgeEddie Howe is asked by the MNF crew for an update on Alexander Isak.
He says: “There is absolutely nothing to update you with, unfortunately.”
Cheers, Eddie.
Arne Slot speaks...
19:11 , Arthur FerridgeArne Slot confirms to the MNF cast that Dominik Szoboszlai will be the man at full-back today.
He adds that Joe Gomez is not yet ready to start, but could play 15 to 20 minutes.
Anthony Gordon at No9
19:07 , Arthur FerridgeFor Newcastle, Anthony Gordon again gets the nod as a makeshift centre-forward. He will hope to perform better than he did against Villa last week.
Jacob Ramsey could be set for a debut - he is named among the subs.
Howe names a strong midfield combination of Guimaraes, Joelinton, and Tonali. To put money on one of those three getting booked tonight would not be a particularly risky bet.
Szoboszlai at right-back?
18:57 , Arthur FerridgeDominik Szoboszlai seems to be the man handed the task of replacing the injured Jeremie Frimpong for Liverpool.
Elsewhere, there are very few surprises in the Liverpool squad.
Giovanni Leoni could debut off the bench.
Newcastle starting XI
18:47 , Arthur FerridgeHere’s how the hosts line up.
Newcastle starting XI: Pope; Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento; Guimaraes, Joelinton, Tonali; Barnes, Elanga, Gordon
Subs: Ramsdale, Hall, Botman, Thiaw, Osula, Murphy, Willock, Ramsey, Miley
Liverpool starting XI
18:46 , Arthur FerridgeArne Slot names his squad.
Liverpool starting XI: Alisson; Szoboszlai, Van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez; Jones, Gravenberch, Wirtz; Salah, Ekitike, Gakpo
Subs: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Endo, Bradley, Chiesa, Leoni, Elliott, Robertson, Ngumoha
Who starts up top for Newcastle?
18:40 , Arthur FerridgeLine-ups will be released in just a few minutes. In Isak’s absence, who starts up top?
It was Anthony Gordon last time out, but he didn’t manage to find the back of the net. Does he get the nod again?
Last time out
18:30 , Arthur FerridgeThis match is, of course, a repeat of last season’s Carabao Cup final, in which Newcastle beat Liverpool 1-0 to clinch their first major honour for some 70 years.
Alexander Isak
18:19 , Arthur FerridgeHe has to be spoken about. He will be at the centre of attention tonight, at least from a narrative perspective, after spending much of the summer attempting to force a move from Newcastle to Liverpool.
He has been on strike for much of pre-season and, now, the regular Premier League season. He is training alone and seems to have his heart set on moving despite Eddie Howe’s repeated public pleas for him to reintegrate.
Both sides, then, come in with a point to prove. Who can win Isak’s heart?
Liverpool predicted XI
18:10 , Arthur FerridgeArne Slot may be forced into a shuffle tonight as he deals with some injuries. Here’s how we think Liverpool could line up.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Alisson; Endo, Konate, van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Ekitike
Injured: Frimpong
Doubts: Bradley, Gomez
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