Liverpool captain full of praise for match-winning teenager | OneFootball

Virgil van Dijk was full of praise for 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha after the teenager scored a 100th minute winner against Newcastle.

Even though Newcastle were down to ten men after Anthony Gordon was sent off for a rash challenge on van Dijk in the first half, the Magpies dominated the match.

When Newcastle equalised in the 88th minute through Will Osula it seemed as though, if there was going to be a winner – it would be for Newcastle, but that was not the case as Nguhoma latched onto Mohammed Salah’s ball across the box and placed home to win it.

Van Dijk was asked about the young forward’s goal: “It’s a dream debut for him.

“I think that whole attack was quite good. I think Harvey started it or our right-hand side and Chiesa did the dummy. It was a perfect attack. We stayed calm at the end to find the right solution to score the goal.

“I’m very pleased for Rio, I’ve said it to him already it all starts now, he has to keep working hard and stay humble but definitely have to enjoy this because these nights, you can’t take them for granted if you’re in his position.

“I’m sure with the players we have he will be back in training and having a hard session tomorrow again.”

Even though the Reds won the game, the Liverpool captain believes that Newcastle away will be a tough test for many teams this season.

“”We all know it’s a difficult place to come. We know there was a lot of oil on the fire this week to get Newcastle fired up. What happened tonight was expected and, for us, the disappointing part was that we conceded two set pieces. That shouldn’t happen but overall great three points, move on and focus on the next one.

“Free-kick, corner kicks the pressure gets on. They had the quality. If you look at the traditional top six here last season there was only a couple that beat them It’s always a difficult place to come.

“I enjoy these type of atmospheres, so I was really looking forward to it but we could’ve made it easier if we don’t give them those set pieces, then you give them the boost and the feeling and the drive with the fans behind them but we managed to get the three points and move on.”

The Dutchman was on the receiving end of the tackle that Gordon was sent off for but he has no hard feeling towards the Newcastle winger.

“I said to him, if that’s not a sending off then I don’t understand football. It was strange the referee had to go to the monitor in my opinion.

“Unfortunately, these things happen in football, if he meant it or not it happened, we move on.”