Arne Slot sums up Liverpool’s win over Newcastle in just three words
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Liverpool secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over 10-man Newcastle United at St. James' Park, with a last-gasp winning goal from 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha scored 10 minutes into injury time. The match was intense and chaotic, characterized by a scrappy style of play and a high number of fouls, with the ball in play for only 40.8% of the time—the lowest in a Premier League match since 2010.
Liverpool took an early lead through Ryan Gravenberch before Newcastle's Anthony Gordon was sent off just before halftime for a dangerous challenge on Virgil van Dijk, reducing the hosts to 10 players. Early in the second half, Hugo Ekitike extended Liverpool's lead to 2-0.
Despite being a man down, Newcastle mounted an impressive comeback. Bruno Guimarães scored to reduce the deficit, and substitute Will Osula equalized, causing a tense finish as the Magpies tried to hold on during the extended stoppage time. However, they ultimately conceded the winner to Liverpool's Ngumoha in dramatic fashion.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot praised Ngumoha's composure and finishing for the decisive goal but was critical of the overall quality of the game, describing it as "not a football match" due to its chaotic and physical nature. He emphasized the team's mentality and fighting spirit as key to securing the win in a hostile atmosphere, even if the performance lacked the usual football quality.
Defensively, Slot expressed concern over conceding two goals from set-pieces, noting that such vulnerabilities could hamper Liverpool's title ambitions if not addressed. However, he acknowledged the importance of securing away wins like this for the championship challenge.
The backdrop to the match included ongoing speculation around Newcastle striker Alexander Isak's potential transfer to Liverpool, which added another layer of intensity to the fixture.
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