Liverpool fans witnessed history at St James’ Park as 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha scored a dramatic winner in the 100th minute against Newcastle.
The young forward’s strike sealed a 3-2 victory and placed his name alongside Wayne Rooney in the Premier League record books.
The night had already delivered plenty of drama. Liverpool looked in control after goals from Ryan Gravenberch and Hugo Ekitike, helped by Anthony Gordon’s red card.
Yet Newcastle fought back with late goals from Bruno Guimaraes and William Osula, setting up what looked like a frustrating finish for the Reds.
Then came Ngumoha, calm as ever, sweeping home deep into stoppage time. One swing of his boot and Liverpool turned heartbreak into headline news.
Who is the youngest player to score for Liverpool?
| Player | Age at first goal |
|---|---|
Rio Ngumoha | 16 years 361 days |
Ben Woodburn | 17y 45d |
Kaide Gordon | 17y 96d |
Michael Owen | 17y 143d |
Jordan Rossiter | 17y 183d |
Ngumoha’s goal made him the youngest scorer in Liverpool’s history at 16 years and 361 days.
He broke Ben Woodburn’s record and became only the second 16-year-old to score a Premier League winner. The first? Wayne Rooney, whose thunderbolt against Arsenal in 2002 announced his arrival.
At almost the exact same age, Ngumoha now joins that exclusive list. Apparently, history likes to repeat itself — just with different shirts. He is also the fourth youngest Premier League scorer overall, behind Rooney, James Milner and James Vaughan.
Liverpool coach Arne Slot praised his young star after the game. “Rio can finish really well for his age. How firm his shot was — you don’t see that often for a 16-year-old,” he said.
Captain Virgil van Dijk also added: “This is just the start now. He has to stay humble, but also enjoy it because these kinds of nights you can’t take for granted.”
For Liverpool, it was another big win in their strong start to the season. For Ngumoha, it was the night he stepped into the spotlight. A goal that young, that late, and that vital — it feels like Anfield has just found its new wonderkid.
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