Newcastle 2 - 3 Liverpool: Player Ratings and Match Highlights

Newcastle 2 - 3 Liverpool: Player Ratings and Match Highlights

Late Drama Nullifies a Newcastle Comeback on Tyneside

Arne Slot's energetic Liverpool side continued their Champion form with a 3-2 win away to Newcastle United on Bank Holiday Monday.

A dramatic finish ripped up the Magpies' hard-earned comeback to shreds after youngster Rio Ngumoha fired in an 100th minute winner on Tynside, to score his first professional goal.

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

The three points looked to be heading back to Merseyside early into the second half, after an Anthony Gordon sending off helped the Reds to double their lead. But Newcastle's perseverence took it down to the wire.

Story of the Match

The game got off to a feisty start on Tyneside, with the crowd roaring and challenges flying.

Despite the end-to-end beginning, it wasn’t until the fourteenth minute that either side tested their opposition, as Florian Wirtz challenged Nick Pope with a right footed curler from the edge of the 18-yard-box. Though, all access was denied by the Newcastle goalkeeper.

Liverpool struggled to grow their way into the game in the early stages of the first half, as the ferocious St James’ Park’s atmosphere continued to spur the home side on.

WOW. 😍 pic.twitter.com/woOzU5eCGU

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 25, 2025

Newcastle’s early dominance soon led to a chance on goal just shy of the half an hour mark, as Harvey Barnes’ inviting cross from the left flank found the head of Anthony Gordon in the danger area. However, the winger’s header looped onto the top of the net.

Another opportunity for Gordon came begging just moments later, when Anthony Elanga zipped the ball across the face of the goal, but Gordon’s effort went just wide of the post.

It wasn’t much later that Liverpool got their breakthrough, after Ryan Gravenberch drilled a shot from the edge of the box, which then kissed the post and then rippled into the bottom left corner to stick his side 1-0 up on 35 minutes - against all momentum.

Ryan Gravenberch punishes Newcastle for their missed chances with an absolute BEAUTY from range! 🚀 pic.twitter.com/QbFH5SHNsG

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 25, 2025

With just minutes left of the first half, Newcastle’s hopes of battling back were thwarted by a reckless tackle made by former Everton man, Anthony Gordon. The Liverpudlian’s dangerous sliding tackle on Virgil Van Dijk was reviewed by VAR and deemed as a red card offence, which sent the Magpies down to ten men.

Half-Time: Newcastle 0-1 Liverpool

Newcastle having gone a player short soon came costly, as less than a minute into the second half Liverpool doubled their account. It was newcomer Hugo Ekitike responsible for the goal, his third since joining the club, after Cody Gakpo teed up his delicate strike into the bottom left corner, similar to his team’s opener.

Completely out of the blue, the hosts hit back just ten minutes later courtesy of their captain. Livramento’s floating cross from the left into the box found the head of Bruno Guimaraes, who out-muscled his marker and nodded the ball into the right side of Alisson’s net, distorting Liverpool’s advantage.

The mark on Virgil van Dijk's leg after that challenge from Anthony Gordon... pic.twitter.com/cOIjMCPYsA

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 25, 2025

The home outfit pursued all pressure from here on, orchestrating some threatening attacks in the final third, without allowing Liverpool to catch their breaths.

Subsequently, in the work of a moment, their patience was rewarded. The ten-man Magpies levelled the affair with less than three minutes of regular time on the clock, as super-sub Will Osula tucked his pinpoint finish past Alisson, after having received a delightful flick on header from Dan Burn.

However, the drama did not stop there. In the dying embers of additional time, of which there were 11 minutes, Liverpool took one last lead through an unlikely source. Szoboszlai’s impressive dummy from Salah's late cross from the right flank meant the ball reached 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha at the back post, who buried his shot into the far corner with an aplomb, sending the away end into ecstasy in the 100th minute of play.

The late winner marked his first goal in senior football and earned his side all three points on the night.

Full-Time: Newcastle 2-3 Liverpool

Match Highlights

Newcastle Player Ratings

Nick Pope - 6/10

The only clear-cut chances Pope was tested by were the two Liverpool goals and he maybe could have made more of an effort to stop them. However, his distribution was excellent, especially through goal kicks and set-pieces.

Kieran Trippier - 6/10

Lacked precision when crossing and struggled to deal with Gakpo's quality.

Fabian Schar - 6/10

Struggled to prevent both of Liverpool's first two goals. Was also subbed off late on after picking up a knock.

Dan Burn - 7/10

The defender performed well against a top-notch Liverpool attack and was responsible for the assist for Will Osula's equaliser.

Valentino Livramento - 7/10

The full-back swung in a handful of crosses for his team, one which resulted in a goal. He had a very strong performance against arguably the best winger in the league.

Bruno Guimaraes - 9/10

He was the coordinator of all Newcastle pressure, as he drove his team forwards and urged them on. The captain also managed to find the net to pull his team back into the game.

Could there be a twist in the tale? 👀

Down to ten, but Bruno Guimaraes pulls one back for the Magpies! pic.twitter.com/Hnv6bDFL7N

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 25, 2025

Joelinton - 6/10

Helped Guimaraes in building his team attacks but lacked any significant contribution. The Brazilian was also subbed off late into the game through injury.

Sandro Tonali - 6/10

Didn't get too involved in the game and was unfortunately taken off halfway through the second half due to injury.

Harvey Barnes - 6/10

Got some decent crosses into the box but did not create much, especially in the second half.

Anthony Elanga - 7/10

The newcomer really impressed on his home debut for the club, creating a plethora of chances for his team and nearly grabbing a couple of assists.

Anthony Gordon - 2/10

The winger looked lively throughout the first half, having a handful of opportunities in front of the Liverpool goal and attacking their back line. However, his red card challenge ultimately came as a huge expense for his side.

Sub - Lewis Miley - 5/10

Didn't offer much when he came on.

Sub - Lewis Hall - 6/10

Helped Newcastle to get the ball forward and get balls into the box, which led to the equaliser. However, did not affect the game too much.

Sub - Jacob Ramsey - 5/10

Didn't offer much when he came on.

Sub - William Osula - 8/10

Was calld upon and made an instant impact. He continued to ignite Newcastle's attacking pressure and was soon rewarded with elation through his 88th minute equaliser.

Sub - Malick Thiaw - N/A

Not on long enough to make an impact.

Unused Substitutes:

Aaron Ramsdale, Sven Botman, Joe Willock, Jacob Murphy.

Liverpool Player Ratings

Alisson - 7/10

The goalkeeper was rarely tested in his net despite the ongoing Newcastle pressure. He saved every reasonbable shot he faced and didnt put a foot wrong.

Curtis Jones - 7/10

Helped control the Liverpool midfield and displayed excellent quality in passing.

Ibrahima Konate - 5/10

Really struggled with Newcastle's long balls over the top. Which then led to the hosts grabbing an equaliser late on.

Virgil van Dijk - 7/10

Continued to be a huge presence in the Liverpool back line, although it wasn't his best match by any stretch of the imagination.

Milos Kerkez - 5/10

He struggled against Newcastle's pacey wingers and found himself beaten to the header for Guimaraes' goal.

Ryan Gravenberch - 9/10

The Dutchman didnt let Newcastle's early pressure absorb him, and he soon hit back with a sweet goal to open Liverpool's scoring.

Dominik Szoboszlai - 7/10

Slotted into the right of the defence in the absence of Jeremie Frimpong, and put in a solid display. Played a great dummy to release the ball for Ngumoha for the late winner.

What a finish that is from Hugo Ekitike 👏 pic.twitter.com/KNg0UDysaB

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 25, 2025

Florian Wirtz - 4/10

Did not offer too much going forwards and was outshone by both Gakpo and Eketike. Not the type of fixture for his graceful style to shine through.

Cody Gakpo - 9/10

The Dutchman proved why he deserves that left wing position, after he instigated many Liverpool attacks and picked up assists for both goals

Mohamed Salah - 6/10

Last season's Golden Boot winner didnt offer too much going forward in this game and struggled to get involved.

Hugo Ekitike - 8/10

Ekitike's early second half goal landed the suckerpunch and punished Newcastle's sending off. Now his second Premier League goal of the season, the striker continues to look red hot in the top flight.

Sub - Conor Bradley - 5/10

Did not make an impact.

Sub - Federico Chiesa - 5/10

Did not make an impact.

Sub - Harvey Elliott - N/A

Not on long enough to make an impact.

Sub - Rio Ngumoha - 8/10

Scored his first senior goal as the match winner. That is all you can ask for from the substitute.

Unused Substitutes:

Giorgi Mamardashvili, Andrew Robertson, Giovanni Leoni, Joe Gomez, Wataru Endo.

Man of the Match - Bruno Guimaraes

After a fantastic display in the Newcastle midfield, Bruno Guimaraes is the Man of the Match for this affair.

He performed excellently all game and even managed to grab the Magpies' first goal of the night.