It is a bit ironic that in a match where the absence of Alexander Isak took the spotlight, it was a 16-year-old player who became the decisive figure.
Before the match between Newcastle and Liverpool, the name Rio Ngumoha was almost only known within Liverpool's academy and the Merseyside region. But after the decisive goal that brought a dramatic 3-2 victory to The Kop, this name was immediately engraved in the memories of fans.
Having joined Liverpool from Chelsea in the summer of 2024, Ngumoha has quickly made such a strong impression that many consider him the club's brightest young talent since Raheem Sterling.
Therefore, coach Arne Slot decided to push Ngumoha up to the national team for one season and give him the opportunity to make his Premier League debut against Newcastle, just 4 days before his 17th birthday. However, it is undeniable that Slot was forced to put his faith in a teenager at a time when the team was hungry for a goal, partly reflecting Liverpool's lack of firepower in attack at the moment.
Anfield has just gone through a turbulent summer spending more than £300 million to strengthen the team that won the Premier League last season. But given the move of Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez to Bayern Munich and Al Hilal, and the regrettable death of Diogo Jota, Liverpool clearly lack options up front.
The focus of recent weeks has been Alexander Isak. Liverpool's £110m offer earlier this month was rejected by Newcastle, and the Swedish international was determined to leave Tyneside. His presence became a "ghost" covering the Northeast region, when tensions between the two sides sometimes seeped into the water, sometimes broke out.
Even before entering St James' Park, Liverpool players were praised by Newcastle fans, as a message that the champions were not welcomed. Slot smiled at these whistling sounds. Perhaps he understood that Liverpool were being seen as "the villain" in this long-running transfer play.
For Newcastle fans, Liverpool's interest has taken their icon by storm, a player who was hailed as a hero just a few weeks ago.
Isak's shocking statement last week - accusing Newcastle leaders of breaking their promise and saying that leaving was good for everyone - only increased the fire of the conflict.
The home team's audience turned St James' Park into a passionate stage, where every successful tackle or throw-in was cheered as a goal. Before the match, Gallowgate End stood holding up the flag with the words: "nothing can be achieved alone". This is both a satire aimed at Isak and a declaration of solidarity that Newcastle showed in the first half.
But just 10 minutes before the half-time ended, the game suddenly turned around. Ryan Gravenberch opened the scoring for Liverpool with a dangerous curler from the edge of the penalty area, causing the atmosphere in the stands to boil like being splashed with cold water.
Before he could calm down, the home team had to deal with further difficulties when Anthony Gordon - who was given a job to replace Isak - made a dangerous foul on Virgil van Dijk and was sent off after VAR intervened.
Right at the beginning of the second half, Liverpool continued to deal a fatal blow. Hugo Ekitike - the name Newcastle tried to recruit three times before joining Anfield - doubled the gap. The goal also helped him make history as the first Liverpool player since Daniel Sturridge in 2013 to score in all three of his first games for the club.
Newcastle were expected to collapse, but fighting spirit - their brand under Eddie Howe - has risen strongly. Bruno Guimaraes reduced the score with a header in the 58th minute, before William Osula brought hope with a decisive finish in the second minute of injury time.
Right at the most stressful moment, Slot threw the sausage when Ngumoha came on. And this gamble has been rewarded. The teenager immediately made his mark, becoming the fourth young striker in Premier League history to make his name on the scorer's list.
After the final whistle, Liverpool fans praised Ngumoha and his teammates, then immediately turned to mock their opponents.
Of course, this deal will not be that simple. But if the match has just ended and brought drama on the pitch, then off the pitch, the transfer play named Isak still seems to have many exciting moments.
