Rio Ngumoha, 16, Becomes Liverpool’s Youngest Goalscorer with Dramatic Debut Winner at Newcastle

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Liverpool forward Rio Ngumoha made history on Monday night, scoring a decisive stoppage-time goal in the Reds’ 3-2 victory over Newcastle United at St James’ Park. The 16-year-old, who turns 17 on Friday, became the youngest goalscorer in Liverpool’s history, securing three points in a tense Premier League clash.

Ngumoha entered the match in the 96th minute and struck four minutes later, sealing the win in the 100th minute. His finish not only ensured victory but also cemented his place in club folklore on his league debut.

Speaking to LFCTV after the match, Ngumoha expressed his excitement. “I’m buzzing. I’m so happy to score, especially the winner. What a good moment. Special feeling,” he said. He credited his teammates for creating the chance, adding, “Mo [Salah] and Dom [Szoboszlai] put it through his legs and when I was one-on-one I just smashed it. Dom just knew I was there. He even said to me in the changing room ‘I hope you was there’.”

The forward also shared the instructions given by manager Arne Slot as he prepared to come on. “It was crazy. He just looked at me, pointed at me ‘quickly, get ready’. You just have to come on and make an impact. Thank God I did that,” Ngumoha explained.

Despite the magnitude of the moment, the teenager displayed humility, downplaying the occasion. “I heard the fans scream my name and it was a very sensational moment. But I can’t get too carried away with all the noise because at the end of the day I probably do that finish 100 times on the training ground,” he said. “But the fans backing you there, makes it crazy.”

Ngumoha praised his teammates for encouraging him to express himself on the pitch. “All of my team-mates encourage me that, if it’s on, to beat my man or take them on. But I’ve got to mix it up sometimes because, if there are two players there, then there might be a pass or a one-two and I find myself in a scoring area.”

Liverpool manager Arne Slot embraced Ngumoha at full-time, highlighting the significance of the teenager’s contribution. The forward now looks ahead to Liverpool’s next Premier League fixture, a home clash against Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday, where fans will be eager to see if the youngster can replicate his debut impact.