Gakpo and Ekitiké stand out in Liverpool’s victory against Newcastle
Reds secure hard-fought win in Premier League Round 2; Ngumoha scores decisive goal.
Liverpool beat Newcastle in dramatic clash
In one of the most exciting matches of the 2nd round of the Premier League, Liverpool defeated Newcastle 3-2 on Monday night (25) at St. James’ Park. The goals for the Reds were scored by Gravenberch, new signing Ekitiké, and academy gem Rio Ngumoha, who sealed the victory in stoppage time.
Despite having a man advantage for most of the match, the Reds found themselves in a tough battle against Eddie Howe’s side, but individual performances made the difference.
Gakpo leads with assists, Ekitiké delivers again
According to Sofascore, Cody Gakpo was the standout performer with a 7.4 rating. The Dutchman provided two assists, completed 65% of his passes, and created two key chances in 89 minutes on the pitch.
Ryan Gravenberch also impressed, scoring one of Liverpool’s goals, recording 90% pass accuracy, and finishing with a 7.3 rating.
Meanwhile, Hugo Ekitiké, one of the club’s most recent reinforcements, lived up to expectations again. The striker scored, created two key passes, and finished with a 7.2 rating, proving decisive with his movement and energy in attack.
Underwhelming nights for Wirtz and Salah
Not all Reds shone. Florian Wirtz had a disappointing performance, earning just a 6.2 rating despite 96% pass accuracy. He lost possession seven times, committed a mistake that led to a goal, and failed to deliver a single decisive pass.
Mohamed Salah also had a quiet night, scoring 6.3. The Egyptian registered one assist and two key passes, but also recorded ten turnovers and failed to hit the target with any of his attempts.
Player ratings vs Newcastle
- Alisson: 6.7
- Kerkez: 6.4
- Van Dijk: 6.9
- Konaté: 6.5
- Szoboszlai: 6.4
- Jones: 7.0
- Gravenberch: 7.3
- Gakpo: 7.4
- Wirtz: 6.2
- Salah: 6.3
- Ekitiké: 7.2
What’s next for Liverpool and Newcastle
With the win, Liverpool remain unbeaten in the Premier League and now prepare for a crucial clash against Arsenal next Sunday (31), at Anfield, in a match that could impact the top of the table.
Newcastle, meanwhile, will try to bounce back when they visit Leeds United on Saturday (30) at Elland Road.
