Rio Ngoumohra, who came on as a substitute, scored an injury-time winner as Premier League champions Liverpool secured a comeback win over 10-placed Newcastle in a thrilling encounter at St James' Park.
Will Osula's first goal of the season looked to complete a spectacular comeback for the Magpies, who were left with ten men after Anthony Gordon was sent off in first-half stoppage time and trailing 2-0 early in the second half.
However, in the 10th minute of injury time, Ngoumoh deprived the hosts of a valuable point, ensuring his team a dramatic 3-2 victory.
The Reds took the lead through Ryan Gravenberg's 35th-minute strike, which turned the tide after a confident start for the hosts. Gordon's early dismissal for a dangerous tackle on Virgil van Dijk and Hugo Ekitieck's goal early in the second half seemed to have sealed the game.
With the crowd chanting “Go Newcastle!” – a reference to the Alexander Isak transfer talks being watched by chairman Yasser Al-Rumayyan – Bruno Guimarães reduced the deficit by heading home Tino Livramento's cross on 57 minutes. Osula's late goal levelled the scores, setting up an incredible climax.
Gordon's error will leave manager Eddie Howe without the services of a forward for three games, compounding personnel issues with Schar, Tonali and Joelinton all injured in a tough encounter. It could also complicate Isak's transfer talks in the remaining days of the window.
The opening minutes were dominated by the hosts, who actively attacked the Reds' defensive lines, where Dominik Szoboszlai temporarily took over as right-back. The first dangerous intervention was required by Nick Pope, who parried a cut shot from Florian Wirtz in the 14th minute.
Alisson Becker breathed a sigh of relief when Gordon missed the woodwork from Harvey Barnes' cross on 28 minutes, Szoboszlai reacting well to Anthony Elanga's dangerous run to allow the goalkeeper to clear the danger.
Liverpool opened the scoring on 35 minutes, Gravenberch's long-range shot from 25 yards ricocheting off Schar and leaving Pope helpless as it headed into the bottom corner.
Things got worse for the Magpies before the break when Simon Hooper red-carded Gordon after a VAR review for a bad foul on Van Dijk, leaving the team with ten men.
Just 23 seconds after the break, Ekitikey – a player the Magpies had been targeting before his move to Liverpool – fired home into the near corner to double the visitors' lead.
Despite being outnumbered, Liverpool allowed their opponents to get back into the game, with Guimaraes beating Milos Kerkes at the far post and heading in Livramento's precise pass for a goal that gave Newcastle hope.
Osula capitalised on a Pope error late in the match to equalise with two minutes remaining, but Ngumoha put the finishing touches on an emotional encounter.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
