Dominik Szoboszlai converted a 99th-minute penalty to secure a 2-2 draw for Liverpool at Newcastle United, cancelling out Joe Willock's superb finish in a chaotic Premier League encounter at St James' Park.
Before kick-off, a banner in the Gallowgate End quoted the late Kevin Keegan: "I want people to dream about their football. We should all be dreamers at heart." The match that followed was anything but controlled, as both Matthias Jaissle, Keegan's latest successor in the Newcastle dugout, and Liverpool's new manager Andoni Iraola pursued their own versions of organised chaos.
Early Newcastle strike sets tone
Newcastle took the lead after just five minutes when William Osula, upstaging the returning Alexander Isak, capitalised on Ryan Gravenberch's surrender of possession. Osula turned past Jérémy Jacquet and Virgil van Dijk, slid a pass to Anthony Elanga, who had left Milos Kerkez for dust, and Elanga's shot flashed beyond Alisson's reach.
Jaissle's tenure started perfectly, while Iraola looked distinctly stressed. Liverpool's best moments came when Florian Wirtz, withdrawn midway through the second half, managed to get on the ball and unnerve the Newcastle side.
Jaissle, who succeeded Eddie Howe just three weeks ago, has re-energised a mentally jaded team and sharpened a swarm pressing game. "The manager is top," said Elanga. "Playing for him is fun."
Isak's return overshadowed
Isak, who forced a record £125m move to Liverpool last summer, was greeted by chants of "rat, rat, rat" as he alighted from the team bus. The Sweden striker miscued his sole chance in an anonymous afternoon, grinning broadly in the face of sustained hostility.
Jaissle trusted 18-year-old Sean Steur, recently arrived from Ajax, alongside Lewis Miley in holding roles in his 4-2-3-1 system. Malick Thiaw and Sven Botman excelled in central defence, while Amar Dedic shone at right-back following his £30m move from Benfica.
Cody Gakpo kept Liverpool in it when Jaissle's midfield stood off him, his first-time shot from outside the area defying Lukas Hornicek.
Willock's strike and late drama
With Osula limping, Joe Willock came on for Newcastle, shifting Yoane Wissa from No 10 to No 9. Wissa dodged three markers and passed to Willock, who curled a shot past Alisson and in off a post. Willock was mobbed by teammates, with substitutes racing the length of the pitch to congratulate him.
Low on creativity, Liverpool seemed beaten until deep in injury time substitute Victor Muñoz was felled when Lewis Hall caught his knee in the penalty area. Szoboszlai lashed the ensuing penalty high into the roof of the net to level a game as swashbuckling as anything Keegan might have conjured.
