Szoboszlai rescues Liverpool in dramatic opener
Dominik Szoboszlai struck a last-gasp penalty to earn Liverpool a dramatic 2-2 draw against Newcastle United in a breathless Premier League opener. The Hungary international converted in the ninth minute of stoppage time after Lewis Hall brought down Victor Munoz inside the box. Newcastle had looked on course for a statement victory under new head coach Mathias Jaissle, only to let another winning position slip against the Reds. Andoni Iraola, taking charge of Liverpool for his first competitive match, will be relieved by the point but concerned by his side’s defensive vulnerability.
The match began with emotional tributes to Kevin Keegan before Newcastle took an early lead in the fifth minute. Anthony Elanga finished a rapid counter-attack, ending a 40-game Premier League scoring drought that stretched back to his Nottingham Forest days. Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz came close to responding, but the visitors struggled to create clear openings before the interval. Lukas Hornicek was largely untroubled as Newcastle protected their advantage effectively.
Goals flow after the break
Liverpool found their equaliser in the 55th minute through Cody Gakpo, whose powerful low strike from distance flew into the bottom-left corner. The goal appeared to shift momentum towards Iraola’s team, but Newcastle responded immediately and emphatically. Substitute Joe Willock restored the home side’s lead with a superb finish just 176 seconds after Gakpo’s equaliser. Willock had been on the pitch for less than two minutes when he capitalised on Yoane Wissa’s excellent run to make it 2-1.
Wissa then had two major opportunities to put the match beyond Liverpool’s reach. He first failed to convert Hall’s crisp delivery before Alisson denied him from close range shortly afterwards. Those missed chances proved costly as Liverpool continued to push during an extended period of stoppage time. Former Newcastle transfer target Munoz won the decisive penalty, though Alexander Isak, facing his old club, did not take the spot-kick after an ineffective performance.
Newcastle’s familiar frustration
Szoboszlai showed no hesitation, hammering his penalty beyond Hornicek to deny Jaissle a winning Premier League debut. Newcastle are now without a victory in 20 consecutive top-flight meetings with Liverpool. The Reds have also equalled the longest unbeaten away run by any team at Newcastle in Premier League history, having avoided defeat in 10 straight visits. Liverpool remain unbeaten on matchday one for the past 14 Premier League seasons, extending the competition’s longest active run.
There were, however, warning signs for both new managers. Newcastle have dropped 29 points from winning positions in the Premier League since the start of last season, with only Wolfsburg surrendering more among Europe’s big five leagues in that period. Liverpool, meanwhile, have conceded nine goals from fast breaks since the beginning of last season, more than any other Premier League side. Iraola will need to address that weakness quickly, while Jaissle must find a way to ensure Newcastle can finally close out matches when victory appears within reach.