The game started slowly, with both teams struggling to create scoring opportunities. Liverpool's Nick Pope needed a strong defensive performance to build upon his solitary clean sheet against the Reds in January 2021, while employed by Burnley.
The visitors' reliance on long balls, a tactic they rarely employed, was a concern for Newcastle's manager Arne Slot. Fortunately, the only shot on target in the first half was a harmless effort from Florian Wirtz.
However, the Toon Army's hopes were soon dashed when Ryan Gravenberch marked his 50th Premier League appearance with a low-driven goal 11 minutes before the break. This was his first goal in 41 top-flight games, and ominously for Eddie Howe, Newcastle had won only one of their previous 32 matches against Liverpool when going behind.
The Reds began to dominate the game, controlling 73.7% of the ball in the final 15 minutes of the first half. Newcastle's woes were compounded when Anthony Gordon's reckless challenge on Virgil van Dijk earned him a red card in injury time.
Just 20 seconds into the second half, Hugo Ekitike made it three goals in three appearances, taking the visitors two clear. Ekitike became only the fourth Liverpool player to score in his opening two league appearances for the club, joining Nigel Clough, Milan Baros, and Daniel Sturridge.
The Magpies' hope of an improbable comeback was sparked by Bruno Guimaraes' riposte on 57', but Liverpool's possession advantage was not enough to secure the win. Despite having 85.8% of the ball from the break to the hour mark, the Reds couldn't land the killer blow.
Newcastle equalized through William Osula in the 88th minute, but the game was far from over. In the 10th of 11 minutes of stoppage time, Rio Ngumoha curled home a delightful winner, becoming the fourth youngest scorer in the Premier League and Liverpool's youngest-ever scorer in their history.
The loss will sting Newcastle, who have now lost four English top-flight games in a row without a win. The potential loss of Alexander Isak with no sign of a replacement compounds their issues, and opposition teams will have noted Liverpool's vulnerability at the back.
While Liverpool's victory is a welcome three points for Arne Slot, their five shots at goal in the entire game are a concern, particularly against a team that wants to retain their Premier League crown.
The Magpies have nothing to show for their endeavours, but there are positives to take from the game, including coming close to a point with 10 men. Liverpool, on the other hand, will need to address their defensive frailties ahead of their next fixture against table-topping Arsenal.
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