A pulsating, often chaotic encounter at St James’ Park ended with Liverpool snatching a 3-2 victory in the 100th minute, capping a night of edge-of-the-seat drama fuelled as much by this summer’s acrimonious Alexander Isak transfer saga as by the football on the pitch.
By the time the final kick arrived, emotions had run high. Liverpool boss Arne Slot admitted afterwards: “I’m not sure it was a football match today.” The charge and countercharge reflected that confusion — and a crowd furious at Liverpool’s reported pursuit of Isak — as much as tactical play.
Key moments
- Ryan Gravenberch put Liverpool ahead with a low, slightly deflected strike from the edge of the area in the 35th minute, catching an unsighted Nick Pope.
- The match tipped into chaos when Anthony Gordon was sent off in the first half for a reckless tackle from behind on Virgil van Dijk, a moment that left the Dutch defender showing a calf injury and shifted the game’s momentum.
- Newcastle rallied late: Will Osula produced an unexpected late leveller to make it 2-2, sparking delirium among the home fans.
- In the 100th minute, substitute Rio Ngumoha stepped up to win it for Liverpool with a dramatic, last-gasp strike that sealed a memorable — and bitter — victory for the visitors.
Storylines beyond the score
The match was inseparable from the Isak transfer drama. The Sweden striker watched from home in Northumberland as events unfolded, while Newcastle’s directors’ box was notable for the presence of chair Yasir al-Rumayyan and a heavy delegation from the club’s Saudi owners. The high-tension atmosphere was compounded by reports of boardroom talks earlier in the day — including overtures involving Liverpool executives — as Newcastle tried to resolve its striker situation.
Gordon, pressed into a centre-forward role in Isak’s absence, was influential but ultimately self-destructive: he troubled Liverpool with clever movement and set-piece wins, yet his poor decision to lunge at Van Dijk cost his team dearly. Liverpool, led by a composed defensive core around Van Dijk and a midfield showing from Sandro Tonali, weathered much of Newcastle’s ferocity and capitalised late through substitutes.
Verdict
What might have been a routine top-flight fixture instead became a microcosm of modern football — transfers, owners, crowd fury and a wild finale. For Liverpool it was a nerve-shredding win; for Newcastle, a night of frustration amplified by off-field distractions and the costly loss of discipline.
