Liverpool needed a 100th minute winner from 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha to beat Newcastle 3-2, after blowing a two-goal lead against 10 men in a Premier League thriller on Monday night.
Ryan Gravenberch and long-time Newcastle target Hugo Ekitike struck for the English champions, either side of Anthony Gordon’s red card for a wild lunge on Virgil van Dijk.
But amid a frenzied atmosphere at St. James’ Park, the Magpies battled back through Bruno Guimaraes and William Osula only to be denied by teenage sensation Ngumoha’s late strike.
Victory takes Liverpool level on maximum points from two games with Tottenham and title rivals Arsenal, who travel to Anfield on Sunday.
Newcastle remain without a win as they miss their wantaway talisman Alexander Isak.
The Swedish striker scored the winner when the sides last met in the League Cup final in March as Newcastle lifted their first domestic trophy for 70 years.
But Isak yet to feature for Eddie Howe’s men this season as he seeks an exit from Tyneside.
Liverpool are the likely destination if Isak does leave before the transfer window closes in a week’s time.
The Reds have reportedly had one bid of £110 million ($149 million) rejected as Newcastle want a British transfer record £150 million.
Adding to the Magpies’ frustration is the fact the Premier League champions also won the race to sign Ekitike, who Newcastle had lined up as a potential Isak replacement.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot named new signings Ekitike and Florian Wirtz, alongside Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah in an ultra-offensive line-up that saw Dominik Szoboszlai deputise as a makeshift right-back.
After failing to land a number of striker targets in the transfer market, Newcastle’s lack of a clinical No 9 was exposed as they failed to break down 10-man Aston Villa in a 0-0 draw to begin their season last weekend
