Rio Ngumoha capped a “dream debut” with a stoppage-time winner as Liverpool edged past Newcastle in yet another St James’ Park thriller between the two sides.
Elsewhere, Celtic head coach Brendan Rodgers has warned his players there will be “no excuses” if they fail to get past Kairat Almaty in Kazakhstan on Tuesday and reach the Champions League league phase.
Leeds have bolstered their defence with the signing of James Justin from Leicester, while Everton have landed Tyler Dibling from Southampton – but Wolves maintain Jorgen Strand Larsen is not going anywhere.
Sweet sixteen as Liverpool nudge past Newcastle
Sixteen-year-old Rio Ngumoha was the hero as Liverpool snatched a dramatic 3-2 win over Newcastle in the 10th minute of stoppage time.
Debutant Ngumoha came off the bench to snatch the winner moments after Will Osula’s late effort had hauled the Magpies level.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk paid tribute to Ngumoha, telling 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.”
“No excuse” for Celtic stars in Kazakhstan
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers told his players there were no excuses as they prepare for their Champions League decider against Kairat Almaty.
The Scottish champions made the 3,500-mile journey to Kazakhstan on Sunday ahead of Tuesday’s play-off second leg.
Celtic need to win to reach the league stage after a goalless first-leg draw and Rodgers has stated how much preparation has gone into reducing the impact of the journey, which took them to about 250 miles from the Chinese border.
“There’s no excuse for us,” he said. “Especially when you see how well Kairat worked last week. They had the same journey going the other way, so that won’t be an excuse for us.
“We all feel fine, we feel great. We’re on our own time zone and we’ll prepare and there will be no excuse.”
Leeds sign defender James Justin from Leicester
👊 Ready to get to work! pic.twitter.com/34pHMpfjez
— Leeds United (@LUFC) August 25, 2025
Leeds have completed the signing of defender James Justin from Leicester.
The deal for the 27-year-old full-back is understood to be for £8million up front, with a further £2m in add-ons.
The Luton-born player, who has signed a four-year contract at Elland Road, came through the ranks at his local club before joining Leicester in 2019.
He becomes Leeds’ 10th signing of the summer window as Daniel Farke’s men bid to stay in the top flight after winning the Sky Bet Championship last season.
“Obviously to join a club of this size and to have the history it has had, and being back in the Premier League was a massive thing for me, so I’m over the moon to have joined,” James told the club’s official website.
Everton land Dibling from Southampton
— Everton (@Everton) August 25, 2025
Everton have completed the signing of 19-year-old winger Tyler Dibling from Southampton on a four-year contract.
He is David Moyes’ eighth summer signing and the deal, worth a reported £42million, takes their spending during that period to more than £100m.
Dibling made his Southampton debut at the age of 17 in 2023 and made 33 top-flight appearances last season.
He told evertontv: “I’m buzzing to sign. I felt the club already, even before I was in the building, just from social media and from people telling me about the club.
“I’ve never been so excited to play football and I’m just ready to get going.”
Wolves reject Newcastle bid for Strand Larsen
Wolves have rejected a £50million bid for striker Jorgen Strand Larsen from Newcastle, the PA news agency understands.
The West Midlands club have told the Magpies the Norwegian is not for sale at any price during the current transfer window.
Strand Larsen only completed a permanent move to Molineux last month after spending the past season on loan from Celta Vigo.
He emerged as a target for Newcastle after an approach to sign Yoane Wissa from Brentford was also rebuffed.
Eddie Howe have been trying to bring in a new forward to replace Callum Wilson, whose contract expired at the end of the 2024-25 campaign.
What’s on today?
Celtic head to Kazakhstan with their Champions League hopes very much hanging in the balance.
Brendan Rodgers’ side were held to a goalless draw by Kairat Almaty in the first leg of their qualifier at Celtic Park last week, and need to step up a gear to avoid embarrassment.
Seven Premier League clubs are in Carabao Cup action, including another big test for Graham Potter as his West Ham side travel to Wolves and Leeds’ short trip to crisis-hit Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday.
