Liverpool secured a late victory at St. James' Park through a 100th-minute finish by 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha after a clever dummy from Dominik Szoboszlai. Darwin Núñez previously produced an unforgettable winning brace and the fixture has historically produced dramatic encounters, including a 3-3 draw last season. Defensive frailties remained a concern despite the result, with sections of the backline delivering a shockingly poor display. Injuries to Jeremie Frimpong, Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez forced Szoboszlai into right-back duties, where he combined defensive solidity with creative influence and recorded four clearances and an 89% pass completion rate.
Ahead of the match, Liverpool faced a dilemma at right back. With Jeremie Frimpong sidelined through injury and both Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez still working their way back to full fitness, Arne Slot had little choice but to deploy Dominik Szoboszlai in the role. Though the Hungarian had picked up a few reps there in preseason, it remains far from his natural position.
Yet when it mattered most, rose to the occasion and delivered a fantastic performance. Liverpool's No. 8 turned in a Man of the Match display at St. James' Park, combining defensive grit with composure on the ball. He made four crucial clearances, kept the lightning-quick Harvey Barnes quiet on the flank, and capped it off with an assured 89% pass completion rate.
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