Good evening and welcome to the ECHO's live coverage of Liverpool's Premier League clash with Newcastle United.
The Reds travel to St James’ Park looking to make it two wins from two at the start of the new campaign. However, a red-hot atmosphere awaits the visitors due to events that have occurred off the pitch surrounding Alexander Isak.
The forward is currently on strike at Newcastle in an attempt to force through a transfer to Liverpool. The Reds have had a £110 million bid for the striker rejected, with the Magpies believed to want around £150 million before agreeing to a sale.
That decision has clearly irked Isak, who put out a statement last week confirming that he wanted to leave. However, as of yet, Newcastle have been unable to find a potential replacement, and the Reds have not come back to the table with another offer.
All of this means Isak will not be involved on Monday night, with Anthony Gordon — who was linked with a move to Liverpool last summer — set to lead the line.
For Liverpool, Ryan Gravenberch is set to return after serving a suspension last weekend. Head coach Arne Slot will be without both of his first-choice right-back options, though, with Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong injured.
Team news will be in at 6:45 p.m. (BST) for an 8 p.m. kick-off. Paul Gorst and Ian Doyle will be in attendance to provide build-up, goal updates, and reaction from a huge game in the North East.
Joe Rimmer
LFC player ratings as Ngumoha the hero
It took some persuading, but Ian Doyle gave Rio Ngumoha a 10 after that brilliant goal in the 3-2 victory at St James' Park tonight.
What a moment for the 16-year-old, who becomes Liverpool's youngest ever scorer.
And he wasn't the only one to shine tonight. Unfortunately, a couple of others really struggled.
Read Ian's ratings here.
Paul Gorst
Full time
Full time: Newcastle 2-3 Liverpool.
Another bonkers game featuring the champions. One hundred and one minutes played, settled by 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha.
Paul Gorst
His name is Rio!
Looks like the 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha has won it!
Incredible finish to this game. I think we're in the 100th minute.
Wow!
KEY EVENT
GOAL! Newcastle United 2-3 Liverpool (Ngumoha)
Wow.
Paul Gorst
Subs enter
Elliott and Ngumoha are finally on. Gakpo and Jones make way.
Paul Gorst
Eleven added
Just the 11 minutes added on. Elliott and Ngumoha are coming on.
Paul Gorst
Newcastle level!
Liverpool don't deal with long free-kick from Pope and Osula pounces to level it. So poor from Liverpool's perspective.
KEY EVENT
GOAL! Newcastle United 2-2 Liverpool (Osula)
The inevitable leveller.
Paul Gorst
Newcastle sub
Malick Thiaw coming on for Fabian Schar.
Paul Gorst
Subs
Ekitike and Wirtz make way for Bradley and Chiesa.
Szoboszlai back into midfield.
Paul Gorst
Subs being readied
Looks like Conor Bradley and Federico Chiesa are coming on.
Paul Gorst
Schar down
Fabian Schar down inside the Liverpool area, Alisson beckoning the physios over. Fans boo the referee for allowing play to continue. Hopefully it's not a serious one.
Paul Gorst
Newcastle subs
Osula, Hall and Ramsey all coming on for Newcastle.
Joelinton, Trippier and Barnes make way.
Paul Gorst
Joelinton struggling
Joelinton's race might be run here. Looks in some discomfort.
Paul Gorst
Into the final 20
We're inside the final 20 minutes now. Joelinton is currently down after a tangle with Gravenberch on the centre circle.
No sign of any Liverpool changes so far.
Ian Doyle
Twenty's plenty
Into the last 20 minutes and apart from the spell directly either side of half-time in which they scored twice, Liverpool have overall been pretty poor.
Newcastle aren't going to give this up and it may require a third goal from the Reds to seal the deal.
But they really haven't looked like it, despite having an extra player.
Paul Gorst
Cool heads needed
Another spell of possession is needed here, Newcastle fans are right behind their team now and are wildly cheering every tackle, kick and block. Liverpool need some cool heads, don't get dragged into the dogfight where it could end up being 10 v 10.
Paul Gorst
Newcastle sub
Sandro Tonali off for Lewis Miley.
Paul Gorst
Back in it
Well that came from nowhere, didn't it?
Guimaraes halves the deficit with a header that creeps past Alisson.
Newcastle 1-2 Liverpool.
KEY EVENT
GOAL! Newcastle United 1-2 Liverpool (Guimaraes)
Game back on.
Paul Gorst
Firmly in control
Liverpool look well in control now, as the scoreline would suggest. Sandro Tonali is currently down, looks like he;s nursing a shoulder issue but the possession is there now for the visitors, who are zipping it about with much more clarity.
Paul Gorst
Away end in full voice
"Isak's right, your fans are s****!" sing the Liverpool fans way up in the gods.
They're enjoying themselves all right.
Paul Gorst
2-0!
Nice finish from Ekitike, who scores his third Liverpool goal, side-footing home off the post. Liverpool 2-0 Newcastle. A long way back now for the 10 men.
KEY EVENT
GOAL! Newcastle United 0-2 Liverpool (Ekitike)
And another!
Ian Doyle
Under way again
The second half is started by Guimaraes.
KEY EVENT
Half-time ratings
Alisson Becker 7
Safe hands as Newcastle peppered the Liverpool penalty area first half and solid distribution.
Dominik Szoboszlai 7
Worked so hard as emergency right-back and defended well at far post on occasion.
Ibrahima Konate 5
Over-elaborate pass sent Tonali scurrying clear and unconvincing too often in his defensive play. Booked.
Virgil van Dijk 7
Aerial prowess required as Newcastle sought to capitalise on their many set-pieces and did well to carry on after on receiving end of dreadful challenge for Gordon red card.
Milos Kerkez 6
Stuck to his task defensively up against Elanga and far less rash than Bournemouth.
Ryan Gravenberch 6
Affected by early booking and game passed him by for much of opening half-hour but no arguing quality of his opening strike.
Curtis Jones 5
Struggling to make any sort of impact as Newcastle dominated early on but began to show signs of flicking into life.
Mohamed Salah 5
Peripheral until the approach to half-time when Liverpool finally began to exploit his pace up against the Newcastle back line.
Florian Wirtz 5
Overpowered for large parts before interval but at least had a shot on target.
Cody Gakpo 5
Hitting the Dutchman long didn’t pay much dividend for large periods before the interval.
Hugo Ekitike 5
Asked to chase a lot of difficult balls first half but could have done more with the few he received.
Paul Gorst
Half time: Newcastle 0-1 Liverpool
Half time: Newcastle 0-1 Liverpool. Huge boos around St James' as Simon Hooper ends the half moments after Anthony Gordon was given a red card. "Premier League, corrupt as f***" sing the home ends as the players walk off. Wow. We said it was going to be tasty, didn't we?
Paul Gorst
Off!
Anthony Gordon is sent off after a review of the monitor by Simon Hooper.
Wow.
Paul Gorst
Gordon booked, Van Dijk down
Anthony Gordon with a foolish one on Virgil van Dijk as the Liverpool captain tried to clear it. The fans enjoyed it but it's the most obvious booking of the season so far.
Paul Gorst
Burn booked
Dan Burn goes in the book for hacking down Salah right in front of us.
