Dominik Szoboszlai struck a decisive penalty with the final kick of the match to salvage a 2-2 draw for Liverpool against Newcastle United. The result marked the opening of a new chapter for the Reds under manager Andoni Iraola, who took the helm following the close-season sacking of Arne Slot and the high-profile departure of Mohamed Salah to Trabzonspor.
The atmosphere at St James’ Park was charged, beginning with an emotional pre-match tribute to Kevin Keegan, the former Newcastle manager and Liverpool striker who recently passed away at age 75. However, the mood shifted sharply for Alexander Isak, who returned to his former home for the first time since his controversial £125 million ($170 million) transfer to Liverpool last year. The Swedish forward, once celebrated for ending Newcastle’s 56-year trophy drought with a 2025 League Cup win, was met with deafening jeers and chants of “greedy” from the home supporters.
Newcastle wasted little time capitalizing on the energy, taking the lead in the fifth minute. William Osula initiated a rapid counter-attack, feeding Anthony Elanga, who sprinted past Milos Kerkez to finish clinically into the far corner. The goal highlighted defensive vulnerabilities for Liverpool, as Ryan Gravenberch, Virgil van Dijk, and debutant defender Jeremy Jacquet all appeared slow to react during the breakdown.
Liverpool struggled to find their rhythm throughout the first half, with Isak squandering several opportunities to punish his former club. The visitors eventually leveled the score in the 55th minute when Cody Gakpo, who has been subject to transfer speculation involving Tottenham, collected a pass from Gravenberch. The Dutch forward turned and unleashed a powerful 25-yard strike that beat Lukas Hornicek.
Parity lasted only two minutes. Following a surging run from Yoane Wissa, Joe Willock navigated past Jeremie Frimpong to score from the edge of the box, marking his first Premier League goal since 2024 and restoring Newcastle’s advantage. Despite the lead, Newcastle could not close out the victory. In stoppage time, Lewis Hall committed a foul on Liverpool debutant Victor Munoz, allowing Szoboszlai to step up and fire the penalty into the top corner.
The draw leaves Iraola with a mixed start to his tenure. While he earned praise for his tactical work at Bournemouth, his new side faces a difficult task in catching reigning champions Arsenal. The match also underscored the challenges of a transition period; 17-year-old winger Rio Ngumoha struggled to fill the void left by Salah, while the defensive unit appeared as disjointed as it did during the previous campaign. With Salah already scoring for Trabzonspor and key figures like Ibrahima Konate and Andrew Robertson moving to Real Madrid and Tottenham respectively, Iraola faces a significant rebuilding project. The report also notes that anthony Elanga put Newcastle ahead inside five minutes before Cody Gakpo equalised shortly after the interval. The report also notes that who can take heart from his team’s refusal to accept defeat but will be concerned by their unconvincing display, it was a mixed start for Iraola. The report also notes that for the first time since 2016, Liverpool kicked off a campaign without Egypt forward Mohamed Salah as their talisman, while Ibrahima Konate and Andrew Robertson have also departed for Real Madrid and Tottenham, respectively. The report also notes that the Sweden striker was greeted by deafening boos and chants labelling him “greedy”, once a hero to the Toon Army after helping end Newcastle’s 56-year trophy drought by winning the League Cup in 2025. The report also notes that the chorus of disapproval for Isak was soon replaced by huge roars of celebration after Newcastle’s electric fifth-minute opener. The report also notes that the sight of Isak passing up a host of chances was even more discouraging, if that summed up Liverpool’s forgettable first half. The report also notes that but Gakpo, who has been linked with Tottenham, showed he could still flourish after an inconsistent spell, iraola has admitted Liverpool need to sign more wingers to help replace Salah.
