Newcastle 2–3 Liverpool: Player Ratings
Liverpool snatched a dramatic 3–2 win at St James’ Park, with 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha announcing himself in sensational fashion. In a chaotic encounter full of momentum swings, the teenager’s debut goal overshadowed established names and gave Jürgen Klopp’s side all three points.
Here’s how the Reds rated on a memorable night in the North East:
Alisson Becker – 7
Commanded his box well and dealt with Newcastle’s low crosses and long balls with confidence. Could do little about the late equaliser, but overall a steady performance from the Brazilian.
Dominik Szoboszlai – 8 (Man of the Match)
Deployed in a utility role but grew into the game superbly. Recovered possession with energy, dictated tempo with incisive passing, and capped his night by assisting Ngumoha’s winner. Tireless, intelligent, and decisive.
Ibrahima Konaté – 4
Struggled badly with the movement of Anthony Gordon and looked uncomfortable throughout. A difficult evening where his lack of sharpness was exposed.
Virgil van Dijk – 7
Showed flashes of leadership and composure but was guilty of lapses, most notably allowing Bruno Guimarães to win a free header. Better than recent outings, yet still short of his commanding best.
Ryan Gravenberch – 7
Took time to settle but improved as the game wore on. Scored confidently, drove forward when possible, and showed glimpses of the physicality Liverpool fans are waiting to see consistently.
Curtis Jones – 5
Involved in some good moments but lacked cutting edge. Missed a clear chance before half-time and wasted a brilliant run with a misdirected pass late on. A frustrating night.
Florian Wirtz – 5
Showed neat touches and vision but never really imposed himself. Worked hard off the ball, yet Liverpool will expect more from their marquee signing in games of this magnitude.
Mohamed Salah – 5
Quiet by his standards. Produced one superb through-ball to Jones but otherwise struggled to influence the game, shackled effectively by Newcastle’s structure.
Cody Gakpo – 5
Another subdued display where he drifted in and out without real impact. Replaced late on and overshadowed by Ngumoha’s fairytale finish.
Hugo Ekitike – 8
Liverpool’s liveliest forward for much of the contest. Constant movement across the frontline, linked play intelligently, and produced another crisp finish into the bottom corner. Growing into his role week by week.
Substitutes
Federico Chiesa (on for Ekitike, 80’) – 5
Worked hard but couldn’t stamp his authority on the match.
Conor Bradley (on for Wirtz, 80’) – 6
Reliable contribution in a frantic closing spell.
Harvey Elliott (on for Jones, 90+6’) – 6
Had a hand in the build-up to the winner. Impactful cameo.
Rio Ngumoha (on for Gakpo, 90+6’) – 9
What a story. Came on at 16 years old, read Szoboszlai’s dummy perfectly, and curled home a stunning 100th-minute winner like a seasoned pro. A debut to remember forever.
Wataru Endo (on for Salah, 110’) – N/A
Unused: Marmardashvili, Gomez, Leoni, Robertson
Overall Team Performance – 6/10
An erratic, uneven display full of defensive frailties, but Liverpool’s spirit and raw talent ultimately carried them through. Ngumoha’s debut will grab the headlines, but Szoboszlai’s industry and Ekitike’s sharpness ensured Klopp’s side found a way to win.
