Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk hails Rio Ngumoha's 'dream debut'

Virgil van Dijk described Liverpool Rio Ngumoha's first Premier League appearance as a "dream debut" after the teenager's dramatic late winner at Newcastle on Monday.

The 16-year-old came off the bench to score deep into stoppage time in Monday's Premier League encounter at St. James' Park as the champions snatched a 3-2 victory after 10-man Newcastle had battled back from 2-0 down.

Van Dijk told Sky Sports: "It is a dream debut for him. It was a perfect technique. We stayed calm towards the end as well, tried to find the right solution in order to score a goal, and we did it. I'm very pleased for Rio."

With his late strike, Ngumoha, who turns 17 on Friday, became the fourth-youngest goalscorer in Premier League history, trailing only James Vaughan, James Milner and Wayne Rooney.

His goal, arriving in the 10th minute of second half stoppage-time, also ranked fourth among the latest goals scored in the competition.

"It was a great goal for a 16-year-old," Liverpool head coach Arne Slot said. "It was a big chance. He can finish really well for his age. How firm his shot was -- you don't see this often.

"He is so confident and for him to score is not completely a coincidence, for his age he is a really good finisher."

Liverpool were second best for large spells of the game despite goals from Ryan Gravenberch and Hugo Ekitike, coming either side of the sending-off of Anthony Gordon, putting them into a commanding position.

Where Ngumoha's goal ranks

With his stoppage-time winner against Newcastle on Monday, Liverpool teenager Rio Ngumoha became the fourth youngest scorer in Premier League history.

The game was played in a fervent atmosphere which owed a lot to Liverpool's failed attempt to sign Newcastle's unsettled striker Alexander Isak.

Van Dijk said: "Obviously we all know it is a difficult place to come, we all know there was a lot of oil on the fire this week to get, especially, Newcastle fired up.

"For us, we are disappointed to concede from two set-pieces and that shouldn't happen but, overall, it's a great three points. We move on and focus on the next one."

Van Dijk had little sympathy for Gordon, who was dismissed for a challenge on the Liverpool captain.

"I said to him if that's not a sending off then I don't understand football. Unfortunately these things happen in football. If he meant it or not, it happened," the Dutchman said.