Liverpool's 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha made history as the youngest scorer in the club's history when he struck with virtually the last kick of a breathless encounter to snatch victory against Newcastle United at a stunned St James' Park.

The atmosphere was red hot, feelings running high after the Reds' lengthy pursuit of the home side's rebel striker Alexander Isak.

And it got the drama it deserved as Newcastle rose off the canvas to rattle the Premier League champions, pulling back to 2-2 after being 2-0 down and despite having Anthony Gordon sent off in first-half stoppage time.

Eddie Howe's men had mounted a frantic early surge on Liverpool's goal but were hit by a sucker punch 10 minutes before the break when Ryan Gravenberch's low shot beat Nick Pope, helped by a slight deflection off Fabian Schar.

A feisty encounter was constantly played on the edge and it boiled over in first-half stoppage time when Gordon, playing up front, was shown a red card by referee Simon Hooper for a rash late challenge on Virgil van Dijk - the decision confirmed after a video assistant referee (VAR) check.

Liverpool stunned the hosts again by doubling their advantage within 30 seconds of the restart when Hugo Ekitike, the striker who snubbed the Magpies to move to Anfield instead, scored with a low, placed right-foot finish.

But, despite being a man down, Newcastle rallied and captain Bruno Guimaraes gave them hope with a diving header at the far post after 57 minutes.

With Liverpool losing their composure under pressure, substitute William Osula got in ahead of Gravenberch to bundle in the equaliser past Alisson after 88 minutes.

Liverpool looked to have thrown away a victory that looked certain in the early moments of the second half - until substitute Ngumoha, at 16 years and 361 days, provided a sensational climax when left unmarked to fire home in the 10th of 11 added minutes.

His winner also made him the fourth youngest scorer in Premier League history, behind James Vaughan, James Milner and Wayne Rooney.

By Ciaran Kelly, Newcastle United reporter

Newcastle had just suffered a painful defeat right at the death - only you would not have known it. Not by the standing ovation the Geordies afforded their exhausted side at full-time.

Newcastle had run the champions mighty close - and the home support recognised that.

After going 2-0 down and with Gordon dismissed, it had previously felt a long way back for the 10 men. The away end even felt emboldened enough to chant about Isak as they asked Newcastle to "hand him over".

Yet the spirited hosts rallied.

Guimaraes' header reignited the stadium as the captain waved his arms up and down and whipped up the fans after pulling a goal back.

Suddenly it felt like Newcastle were playing with a man advantage at a raucous St James' Park as they swarmed Liverpool and made them retreat.

They would lose Sandro Tonali and Joelinton to injury as well, but still Howe's side kept scrapping as an unlikely scorer stepped up.

Unlikely may seem a strange word to use to describe a striker, but substitute Osula had only previously bagged one top-flight goal for Newcastle, against Ipswich in April, since his arrival from Sheffield United last year.

It has got to the stage where Gordon, a winger by trade, has been picked ahead of the Dane in attack. Yet Osula thought he had snatched a point for his side - only for Ngumoha to score a last-gasp winner.

It was a hammer blow for Newcastle, who will somehow have to regroup and lift themselves for a trip to Leeds United on Saturday - and Howe needs a breakthrough in his search for a striker.

Newcastle, after all, are unable to count on one of the world's best centre-forwards in Isak, and will be without the suspended Gordon for the next three games.

Their search for a replacement for Callum Wilson also goes into the final week of the window after bids for Wolves forward Jorgen Strand Larsen and Brentford's Yoane Wissa were rejected.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot was understandably ecstatic when the 16-year-old Ngumoha brought some composure to a wild evening on Tyneside with the calm late finish that gave the Premier League champions a dramatic victory.

It capped a fiery, frenetic encounter that barely let up for a minute, but in which Liverpool cast aside a position of relative comfort to be rocked by 10-man Newcastle, who were backed by a vociferous Toon Army.

Liverpool will take their second successive victory in defence of their crown, but it was also the second time they have given away a two-goal lead, having done the same against Bournemouth in their opening game at Anfield.

As against the Cherries, Liverpool pulled themselves out of trouble late on, but the manner in which they lost their composure so badly, especially with a numerical advantage, will be a serious concern for Slot.

Liverpool were not unsettled by quality football from Newcastle, but by the sheer intensity and force of will from Howe's side.

From looking so calm and measured when winning the title last term, this season they have looked constantly vulnerable in defence, even with the presence of Van Dijk.

The big plus, apart from Ngumoha's effort, was Ekitike scoring for a second successive league game. His clinical low finish showed exactly why Newcastle wanted him so badly before he moved to Liverpool.

Slot will take the victory, but he will have real worries about his side's defensive frailties.

Newcastle United: The Magpies visit Leeds in the Premier League on Saturday (17:30 BST).

Liverpool: The Premier League champions host Arsenal in one of the first blockbuster clashes of the season at Anfield on Sunday (16:30 BST).