Newcastle United and Liverpool staged a turbulent contest at St. James’ Park that confirmed the edge in their increasingly hostile meetings.
Alexander Isak, the forward at the center of transfer tensions between the two clubs, was absent, yet his situation framed the night. Liverpool’s pursuit of the Swedish striker, along with frustration over valuations and bids, has intensified resentment on Tyneside.
The match itself was frantic rather than refined, ultimately decided in the 100th minute when Rio Ngumoha, aged 16 years and 361 days, scored to become Liverpool’s youngest ever goalscorer. The drama recalled earlier high-scoring clashes of the 1990s and reinforced the sense of a rivalry reignited.
Liverpool seemed comfortable when Ryan Gravenberch opened the scoring before halftime, and they doubled their advantage immediately after the interval. Newcastle, reduced to ten men after Anthony Gordon’s dismissal for a reckless foul on Virgil van Dijk, nevertheless fought back through Bruno Guimaraes and substitute Will Osula. The equalizer arrived in the 88th minute, setting the stage for Ngumoha’s decisive strike.
Tension around Isak
Underlying the match was the saga involving Isak. Liverpool has shown interest with an offer well below Newcastle’s £150m valuation, sparking fury among supporters. The Reds’ signing of Hugo Ekitike, another player pursued by Newcastle, has added further fuel to the resentment.
In the stands, home fans displayed their anger with banners and loud jeers for Ekitike. The atmosphere was charged even before kickoff, reflecting broader hostility beyond the 90 minutes on the pitch.
With Gordon now suspended and Isak unsettled, Eddie Howe’s attacking options are stretched thin, leaving questions about whether Newcastle can afford to sell their leading forward.
Liverpool’s defensive concerns
Liverpool claimed the points but again revealed defensive vulnerabilities. Against Bournemouth in their opening match, they surrendered a two-goal cushion before recovering late.
Arne Slot’s side looked fragile at the back, with Ibrahima Konate unconvincing and summer signing Milos Kerkez still adapting. Talk of pursuing Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi suggests reinforcements may be needed.
Florian Wirtz, acquired for £116m, has yet to find rhythm and was withdrawn ten minutes before the end. Andy Robertson’s possible recall could be considered to restore balance on the left.
For Newcastle, the pain of defeat was compounded by unresolved uncertainty over Isak’s future. For Liverpool, the relief of victory comes with recognition that their defensive issues demand swift answers.
