Newcastle United 4-3 Leeds United Player Ratings: Harvey Barnes' Late Winner Secure Full Points for The Magpies

Newcastle United snatched a last-gasp win over Leeds United in a dramatic Premier League fixture on January 7, 2026. Brenden Aaronson scored twice for Leeds, but his heroic performance was not enough to seal three points for the visitors. Harvey Barnes scored a late winner for Newcastle as the match ended at a score of 4-3.

In the article below, we’ll discuss Newcastle United vs Leeds United player ratings and talk about the standout performers of the EPL match.

Brenden Aaronson gave Leeds an early lead, which lasted a few minutes. Harvey Barnes brought Newcastle back into the game. However, ahead of the first-half whistle, Calvert-Lewin restored the lead for Leeds by converting a penalty in the stoppage time.

Joelinton struck in the 54th minute to make it all square in the Premier League clash. The American striker Brenden Aaronson scored the third for Leeds United late in the second half to give his team an edge in the away fixture.

When it looked like all over, Newcastle earned a penalty. Bruno Guimaraes made no mistake in converting the chance as the Newcastle vs Leeds score read 3-3 at the 90th minute. Before the final whistle, Harvey Barnes scored the winning goal for Newcastle to seal all three points.

Key Takeaways:

1. Brenden Aaronson scored twice, including an early goal and a late second-half strike for Leeds United.
2. Newcastle responded through goals from Harvey Barnes and Joelinton to stay level in the match.
3. Bruno Guimarães converted a late penalty, while Barnes struck the winner in the stoppage time to secure a memorable victory.

Newcastle United Player Ratings vs Leeds United

Here are Sportsdunia's Newcastle United player ratings from the Newcastle vs Leeds game:

Goalkeeper

Nick Pope - 6.5: A difficult day for the keeper, conceding three goals. He made a few important saves, three in total, including a crucial one in stoppage time. However, he was caught out by one error that led to a shot. From our view, he wasn't directly at fault for the goals but didn't command his box with his usual authority. He looked a bit shaky under the high ball at times.

Defenders

Lewis Hall - 6.0: A really mixed performance. He was a creative outlet, whipping in nine crosses and creating three chances which is impressive for a defender. On the other hand, he lost possession 18 times and was caught out of position more than once. We noticed his attacking desire sometimes left his defensive duties neglected. An inconsistent showing.

Fabian Schär - 6.5: Was having a reasonably solid game before his unfortunate injury. He made six clearances and was unlucky not to score, hitting the post in the second half. His distribution was decent, but the defence looked vulnerable even with him in it. His departure was a blow to the backline's stability.

Malick Thiaw - 4.0: A first half to forget for the defender. He picked up an early yellow card and never looked settled. The biggest moment was conceding a penalty for a handball just before the break. An error leading to a goal and being hooked at halftime says it all. He was a liability from the get-go.

Lewis Miley - 8.0: What stood out to us was the maturity of this young lad. He was immense. He won 8 of his 10 duels, made a staggering eight clearances, and was so composed in possession. He was unlucky not to score, hitting the woodwork himself. An all-action display that defied his years, a real bright spark.

Midfielders

Joelinton - 8.5: A powerhouse performance in the middle of the park. He was an absolute animal, winning 11 duels and making his presence felt everywhere. He topped it off with a crucial equalizing goal, a great header. Picked up a yellow for his troubles, but that was just part of his combative style. He really drove the team forward.

Sandro Tonali - 5.5: A very quiet 45 minutes from the Italian. He completed most of his passes but had little to no impact on the game. He struggled to get a foothold in a chaotic midfield battle. It was no surprise to see him substituted at halftime as Newcastle needed a change.

Bruno Guimarães - 9.0: A true captain's performance. He was the creative hub, creating four chances and bagging a key assist for Joelinton's goal. Then, he showed nerves of steel to step up and bury the match-winning penalty in stoppage time. From our perspective, he was the driving force behind the comeback. A magnificent display.

Forwards

Anthony Gordon - 6.5: A frustrating evening for him. He was lively and got into good positions, creating one big chance. However, his end product was lacking and he missed a sitter. His decision-making let him down at key moments. The yellow card for dissent summed up his slightly petulant performance.

Harvey Barnes - 9.2: The most clinical player on the pitch for Newcastle. He was absolutely brilliant, bagging two well-taken goals from his three shots on target. His movement was a constant problem for the Leeds defence. While the team was chaotic, he was a beacon of quality in the final third. A fantastic performance and our highest rated player for the home side.

Nick Woltemade - 7.0: A decent outing for the forward. He linked up play nicely and provided a clever assist for Harvey Barnes' first goal. He worked hard and won a good number of his aerial duels. He didn't have many clear-cut chances himself but his contribution was important before he was substituted.

Substitutes

Sven Botman - 6.5: Came on at halftime and brought a little more composure to the backline, though they still conceded. Looked more solid than the man he replaced.

Tino Livramento - 7.0: Provided energy down the right flank and delivered a great cross for a chance Gordon should have buried.

Yoane Wissa - 6.0: Didn't have a massive impact, missed one decent chance from a corner.

Jacob Ramsey - 6.5: Came on for the injured Schär and helped set up a chance for Joelinton.

Jacob Murphy - 6.0: Added some late energy and drew a foul.

Manager

E. Howe - 7.0: His team's defensive structure was all over the place, which is a big concern. However, you have to credit his substitutions and the team's incredible fighting spirit to come from behind three times. He got the win, but the performance was far from perfect. A mixed bag for the gaffer.

Leeds United Player Ratings vs Newcastle United

Check out Leeds United player ratings from the Premier League game:

Goalkeeper

Lucas Perri - 5.5: Conceding four goals is never good for a goalkeeper. He made a couple of decent saves, but from our perspective, he could have done better on at least one of the goals. He didn't inspire confidence and his defence offered him little protection. A tough day at the office.

Defenders

Pascal Struijk - 6.5: A warrior at the back. He made nine clearances and threw his body on the line, blocking three shots. He was a dominant presence for large parts of the game. However, he was also part of a defence that completely fell apart and conceded four goals. He missed a couple of headed chances too.

Joe Rodon - 5.3: A very quiet and ineffective game. He struggled to cope with Newcastle's fluid attack and was often a step behind the play. For a central defender, only making one clearance in a game like this is telling. He just didn't impose himself on the match.

Jaka Bijol - 6.5: He fought hard, winning six of his nine duels and making eight clearances. He was strong in the air and tried to hold the backline together. But like his partners, he was ultimately overwhelmed by the relentless pressure. He did his job individually but the collective failed.

Midfielders

Gabriel Gudmundsson - 6.0: He created one big chance with a good cross but was otherwise on the periphery of the game. He worked hard but lacked the quality to make a real difference. Lost possession 17 times which is far too high.

Ethan Ampadu - 6.5: The captain put in a real shift, making tackles and interceptions all over the pitch. He was combative and tried to protect his back four. However he also committed four fouls and picked up a costly late yellow card. He battled hard but couldn't stem the tide.

Anton Stach - 7.5: He was Leeds' creative spark for much of the game. He created four chances, including one big one, and his delivery from set-pieces was excellent. He was a constant threat with his passing. He faded as the game went on, but it was a very impressive display.

James Justin - 5.5: A frustrating performance to watch. He was unlucky to hit the crossbar with a header. But his overall play was sloppy, he lost possession frequently and was dribbled past twice. He got into good areas but lacked the final product.

Ilia Gruev - 8.0: An outstanding defensive midfield performance. He was everywhere, making four interceptions and winning all three of his tackles. He was also excellent on the ball, registering an assist and creating two chances. What stood out to us was his reading of the game, a truly classy display.

Forwards

Dominic Calvert-Lewin - 7.5: He led the line well, scoring his penalty with confidence and providing an assist for Aaronson's first goal. He was a physical handful, but what was noticeable was that he lost 11 of his 15 duels. A mixed bag of being effective but also getting dominated at times.

Brenden Aaronson - 9.0: Simply sensational. He scored two fantastic goals and was a livewire throughout, his movement and energy were impossible to handle. He was the best player on the pitch by a mile. The only black mark against his name was conceding the late penalty, a cruel twist of fate that cost his team a point and slightly tarnishes a near-perfect performance.

Substitutes

Noah Okafor - 5.5: Came on but struggled to get involved in the frantic end to the game.

Lukas Nmecha - 6.0: Had one decent shot on target that was saved well by Pope.

Sebastiaan Bornauw - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Ao Tanaka - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Wilfried Gnonto - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Manager

D. Farke - 6.5: His team's attacking football was a joy to watch, they were brave and clinical. However, he has to take responsibility for the defensive chaos. His team could not hold a lead and threw away the game from a winning position late on. Tactically brilliant going forward, but naive at the back.

Man of the Match in Newcastle vs Leeds

Harvey Barnes of Newcastle United with 9.2/10 ratings.

Worst Performer in Newcastle vs Leeds

Malick Thiaw of Newcastle United with 4/10 ratings.