Dominik Szoboszlai converted a 99th-minute penalty to secure a 2-2 draw for Liverpool at Newcastle United on Sunday, in a match that saw the home side twice take the lead through Anthony Elanga and Joe Willock. The result leaves both teams with a point from their opening Premier League fixture at St James' Park.
Cody Gakpo had equalised for Liverpool in the 54th minute, but Willock restored Newcastle's advantage just three minutes later. The dramatic finale came when Lewis Hall was adjudged to have tripped Victor Munoz in the box, allowing Szoboszlai to smash the spot-kick into the top corner past goalkeeper Martin Hornicek, who had made an impressive Premier League debut.
Emotional Day at St James' Park
The match was played against an emotional backdrop, with Newcastle fans honouring the late Kevin Keegan, who managed both clubs. A pre-match tifo and card display in the stands paid tribute to the former England international, with supporters in the away end participating in the tribute.
Newcastle took an early lead through Elanga in the fifth minute, capitalising on a fast counter-attack that caught Liverpool's defence off guard. The home side pressed relentlessly in the first half, with Wissa impressing in the number 10 role, and held a 1-0 advantage at the break.
Second-Half Drama and Tactical Changes
Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola made two changes in the 62nd minute, introducing Alexis Mac Allister for Florian Wirtz and Victor Munoz for Ngumoha. The substitutions injected energy into the visitors, with Gakpo's equaliser coming from a long-range effort after he was left unmarked between Newcastle's midfield and defence.
Newcastle responded immediately, with Willock scoring just 176 seconds after Gakpo's goal. The substitute received a pass from Wissa on the run, cut inside and curled a finish from 20 yards that kissed the far post before finding the net. Wissa had earlier missed a golden opportunity to make it 3-1, failing to make contact with a low cross from Hall across the six-yard box.
Late Penalty and Manager Reactions
In the 95th minute, Stuart Attwell awarded Liverpool a penalty after Hall tripped Munoz, with VAR upholding the decision. Szoboszlai, who had to check the referee's whistle due to the noise from 50,000 home fans, sent Hornicek the wrong way with a powerful strike into the top corner.
"I didn't even hear the whistle from the ref," Szoboszlai told Sky Sports. "There were 50,000 people against me, you can't hear your own words." He added: "We learned that we will never give up, we have to fight. Everyone that comes off the bench, they can make an impact."
Newcastle head coach Matthias Jaissle expressed frustration with the penalty decision: "It's a really soft penalty. I'm not a fan of that. If you give that penalty, there will be so many penalties in the future." He praised his team's performance, saying: "They put their heart on the pitch, that's not negotiable."
Iraola acknowledged his side's struggles, saying: "I don't think we deserved to lose. The first goal is hard to defend. Elanga is super fast. The second one is easier to defend." The expected goals (xG) data showed Liverpool created chances worth 2.73 goals compared to Newcastle's 1.43.
The draw leaves both teams with one point from their opening fixture, with Newcastle facing a challenging season after several key departures. Liverpool, who had a strong bench featuring players like Mac Allister and Tsimikas, will look to build on this point when they face their next opponents.
