Thrilling Liverpool win a reminder that defending a title can be harder than winning it in the first place

Liverpool's overall performance against opponents who played the entire second half with 10 men was a warning that you can never stand still in the Premier League.

16-year-old Rio Ngumoha scored a 100th minute winner for Liverpool against Newcastle, making him the fourth youngest Premier League goalscorer in history. Pic: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire.

The question being asked constantly in the build-up to this match was ‘do Liverpool need to buy Alexander Isak’ - and when wonderkid Rio Ngumoha scored a late, late winner after what had been a below-par performance against 10 men, we’re still not quite sure.

Liverpool threw away a two-goal lead against an inspired Newcastle, even though they had Anthony Gordon sent off before half-time, but 16-year-old Ngumoha changed the narrative with his fairy tale goal in injury time, making him the fourth youngest Premier League goalscorer in history.

The fact that Liverpool have him, of course, is exciting; the fact that he was needed, less so.

Now the club has a conundrum around whether to bid for Isak to strengthen their title defence, having moved equal on points with Arsenal and Spurs after two wins in two games.

The outstanding form of Hugo Ekitike is giving Liverpool a strong position in the market, at least, after he scored for the third match in a row, meaning that another striker is far from imperative.

But the overall performance of the team against opponents who played the entire second half with 10 men after Gordon was sent off for a reckless foul on Virgil van Dijk, was a serious warning that you can never stand still in the Premier League.

Newcastle rattled Liverpool at the start and then, having gone 2-0 down to goals from Ryan Gravenberch and Ekitike, roared back again to dominate the final 30 minutes and snatch a point through goals from Guimaraes and young striker William Osula.

Let’s be honest, the forward line wasn’t Liverpool’s biggest problem, although Mo Salah had an extremely quiet night, as they were out-run and out-battled by a Newcastle side that was roared on, as you would expect, by a vociferous home crowd.

But do they now need to think seriously about what Isak would add to the mix, despite that fairy tale ending, because they were second best despite taking the points.

Ekitike, signed from Eintracht Frankfurt for 95m Euros, was, alongside Nguhoma a major positive.

A goal in the Community Shield, a goal against Bournemouth last week and now an excellent finish from outside the box that put 10-man Newcastle 2-0 down just after the break is an outstanding start.

But Liverpool also struggled to find an outlet when put under pressure by the home side and spent long periods in the second half without even finding an attack of their own.

There’s no doubt that Isak would add something different to the mix.

The problem for Newcastle is that they want big money for their forward, who was top scorer last season as they reached the Champions League and won the League Cup – but are increasingly under pressure to take less just to put an end to a problem that is paralysing the club.

One consideration for Liverpool is how to fit Isak into a team in which Salah, Ekitike and Cody Gakpo (who made two assists on Tyneside) already look a confident and balanced front line. But you suspect if the opportunity is there to spend again, the temptation will be too much.

The Swede has, of course, been the biggest story of the summer, so furious at being denied a potential €173m move to Anfield that he is currently refusing to play for the team – losing the backing of his own fans in the process.

An Instagram post last week, which accused Newcastle of breaking a promise to allow him to leave made headlines by adding: ‘When promises are broken and trust is lost, the relationship can’t continue’.

Most of the story so far has focused on the Newcastle end of it, which is not surprising. After all, it is Eddie Howe feeling the pain – and being asked endless questions about a player he cannot select – while Arnie Slot keeps a diplomatic silence and his powder dry.

But for Liverpool fans, the question is whether signing Isak is a necessity to stay ahead of their title rivals, or just the cherry on the top of a cake which already has all the ingredients required to defend the title.

Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong have also arrived since May, big names with big reputations, but others have spent, too, including Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United.

So, could Isak be the key to a successful title defence?

There was evidence that maybe he could be as Liverpool struggled to find a way out under Newcastle’s physicality and energy, even though Howe's side were a man short.

Perhaps the pace and presence of a player like Isak could have provided Newcastle more problems; and the team news for both sides provided a reminder that it doesn’t take many injuries or absences to create a hole in even a title-winning side. Newcastle felt it with Gordon forced to play up front because of a lack of forward options. And Liverpool felt it in a different position when they opted to play Dominik Szoboszlai at right-back.

Having sold Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid, all it took to create that anomaly was an injury to Frimpong, which will keep him out until next month, and Conor Bradley not quite ready to start after his own injury problems.

Was that an indicator for Slot that strength in depth and competition for places is crucial?

If it was, then the under-performance of his team, despite winning it in such remarkable fashion, was an even bigger one.

Let’s celebrate the boy wonder who gave Liverpool victory; but just as significant was a reminder that defending a title can be even harder than winning it in the first place.

If it takes €170m to stay ahead of the opposition, it’s money worth spending.