Within the one hundredth minute, on his Premier League debut, within the week he’ll flip 17, in a recreation when 10 males had come from 2-0 down in opposition to the champions. Each facet of it was exceptional. Rio Ngumoha’s first Liverpool purpose was a winner, however a lot greater than that. It was superbly taken, for starters, curled in after a stunning dummy by Dominik Szoboszlai. It was desperately merciless on Newcastle, who had rallied splendidly in adversity. It robbed Will Osula of his personal standing because the super-sub who had the ultimate say in a rare affair.
And it was a sequel for Liverpool. Final week Federico Chiesa was the substitute who delivered the decisive purpose, additionally after they gave up a 2-0 lead. In every case, they could not have been required had Liverpool obtained the attacking reinforcements they wished. Every however confirmed a power in depth. Liverpool, as soon as once more, discovered an astonishing approach to win on one other evening when they didn’t require . Theirs has been a flawed 100% begin to their title defence.
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Nevertheless it seems was unsuitable when he described the Isak saga as a “lose-lose” state of affairs for Newcastle. It turned worse than that. Lose-lose-lose, maybe, or lose-lose-lose-lose.
Newcastle misplaced to Liverpool, the membership who’ve spent a lot of the summer time making an attempt to signal Isak. They misplaced with a purpose from , the striker they’d hoped to signal to both accomplice or substitute the on-strike striker. They misplaced , the person masquerading as a centre-forward, to a sending off borne of stupidity that can come at an additional value with a three-match ban. They misplaced Sandro Tonali, too, with a suspected shoulder damage and Joelinton, who departed in tears, with two-thirds of an outstanding midfield maybe sidelined. They misplaced regardless of a stirring, beautiful comeback.
They might be forgiven for considering that every thing that might presumably go unsuitable did. The Isak saga is draining and damaging them. Liverpool, in the meantime, are unhurt, discovering loads of targets with out the ahead they had been prepared to pay £110m for. A facet whose show was decidedly combined however negotiated one of many season’s hardest journeys, rising from a hostile surroundings with valuable factors. In a recreation that started in predictably quick and livid style and ended with the frenzy of replacements buying and selling targets, a Liverpudlian and a Liverpool fan misplaced his head: but it surely was Gordon, the ahead who was tempted to go to Anfield final yr.
Ryan Gravenberch’s lengthy ranged strike despatched Liverpool into the lead (Getty Pictures)
Anthony Gordon was despatched off within the first half for a rash sort out on Virgil van Dijk (AFP by way of Getty Pictures)
Maybe he took co-owner Jamie Reuben’s pre-match tweet urging the gamers to get “into them” too far when he slid into Virgil van Dijk. Referee Simon Hooper had initially brandished a yellow card. Despatched to the display, he upgraded it to purple. The sight of the studmarks down the Liverpool captain’s calf proved persuasive.
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The problem was useless and reckless by Gordon; Howe appeared distinctly unimpressed because the ahead walked off. Supporters most popular in charge the Premier League, in a predictable, tiresome and miserable chant. They must as an alternative discover fault with a ahead whose disciplinary file is more and more terrible. His suspension will compound Newcastle’s striker scarcity. It could make it tougher for them to countenance the sale of Isak or power a membership who’ve bid for Yoane Wissa and Jorgen Strand Larsen to up their affords. As it’s, Howe typically says Newcastle haven’t changed Callum Wilson; now they’re with out Gordon as properly.
Hugo Ekitike doubles Liverpool’s lead within the second half (REUTERS)
Bruno Guimaraes headed Newcastle again into the competition (AFP by way of Getty Pictures)
Even earlier than his departure, Gordon had proven a few of his different shortcomings. The winger masquerading as a striker headed over from Harvey Barnes’ cross. As with the same probability at Aston Villa final week, the temptation was to marvel if Isak would have scored it. Gordon has the work ethic to exhaust defenders however not the centre-forward’s intuition. A sixteenth consecutive league recreation with no purpose was curtailed early.
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After his exit, Newcastle mustered a valiant effort, testomony to the spirit Howe has imbued, and scored a primary purpose within the final 5 league video games that Isak, for numerous causes, has missed. Bruno Guimaraes headed in; Milos Kerkez, poor in opposition to Bournemouth on his Premier League debut for Liverpool, was outmuscled too simply. Liverpool’s defensive jitters continued. When Nick Pope punted the ball ahead, Ibrahima Konate, shaky all evening, missed his header and Osula, the one specialist striker accessible to Newcastle, completed calmly.
So did Liverpool, on three events. Ryan Gravenberch’s begin to the season was delayed by paternity go away and suspension. He made a false begin to the sport, booked after six minutes. However, as Guimaraes stood off him, he confirmed a precision to drill in a shot from 20 yards, a immobile Pope watching it go in off the submit.
William Osula thought he had earned some extent for Newcastle earlier than Liverpool’s late winner (Getty Pictures)
16-year-old Rio Ngumoha scored the successful purpose having come off the bench late within the recreation (Getty Pictures)
When he was crushed once more, it was of scant comfort for Newcastle to understand they had been heading in the right direction in concentrating on Ekitike. The Frenchman’s third purpose in as many video games for Liverpool was positioned previous Pope, 23 seconds into the second half, as Newcastle’s 10 males had been making an attempt to regroup.
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His has been a shocking begin. Ekitike turned the primary participant since Daniel Sturridge to attain in every of his first three video games for Liverpool. His identify rang round St James’ Park, however from the part of Liverpool followers on the high of the Leazes Stand. The Newcastle supporters had tried taunting Ekitike with the suggestion he was only a “s**t Will Osula”. In the event that they obtained proof he’s significantly greater than that, Newcastle then noticed proof they’ll have a good time Osula for his personal capability.
In Ngumoha, Liverpool have a gem. He isn’t but sufficiently old to drive. He was ok to offer them three factors to tackle the highway again to Merseyside.