Coach Arne Slot: 'Liverpool did not perform well enough'

Coach Arne Slot expressed his frustration despite Liverpool’s emotional victory over Newcastle in the late match of the 2025/26 Premier League second round.

In the early hours of August 26 (Vietnam time), Liverpool secured a thrilling 3-2 win against Newcastle at St James’ Park, yet Coach Arne Slot remained dissatisfied with his players’ performance.

The Dutch tactician candidly stated: “I’m not sure we witnessed a true football match today. It was mostly set pieces and long throw-ins. There weren’t many tactical elements as I expected, but I’m pleased the players stood firm. The first 30 to 45 minutes were extremely tough, but we didn’t collapse; we showed resilience.”

He added: “When the opponent had a player sent off, it should have been a big advantage for us. But when their goalkeeper took all the set pieces, being a man up didn’t help much. That’s why it was so difficult to maintain the 2-0 lead.”

“Liverpool didn’t play well enough in possession. Every time we reached the final third, the forwards tried to force things too much. I don’t think having a numerical advantage gave us a great edge because their style neutralized it. This is what makes the Premier League special. I believe fans worldwide enjoyed the match, especially with the passionate support from the home crowd.”

Speaking about the 16-year-old prodigy Rio Ngumoha, who shone in the final moments to secure Liverpool’s win, Coach Arne Slot described that moment as a “dream” for Rio Ngumoha but emphasized the youngster must stay grounded:

“It was a dream debut for him. I think the whole attacking move was really well executed. Harvey Elliott started on the right wing, then Dominik Szoboszlai made a feint. A perfect combination. We stayed calm to find the right solution and score. I’m very happy for Rio. I told him this is just the beginning. Rio must keep working hard, stay humble, but also enjoy this moment because nights like this are rare in a career. And surely tomorrow, he’ll return to training with a tough session.”

Returning to the match, Liverpool took the lead with a beautiful long-range strike from Ryan Gravenberch, before Newcastle lost Anthony Gordon to a red card late in the first half. Early in the second half, Hugo Ekitike doubled the lead just 20 seconds after kickoff. However, the home side fought back strongly, with Bruno Guimaraes scoring to reduce the deficit and William Osula equalizing from a set-piece situation to make it 2-2.

When the match seemed destined to end in a draw, 16-year-old prodigy Rio Ngumoha shone at the 100th minute with a decisive finish, sealing a thrilling victory for Liverpool and securing valuable three points at St James’ Park.

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