Szoboszlai penalty earns Liverpool dramatic draw at Newcastle

Liverpool were rescued by Dominik Szoboszlai’s stoppage-time penalty as Andoni Iraola’s first match in charge ended with a dramatic 2-2 draw at Newcastle United.

Szoboszlai kept his composure to send the final kick of the game into the top corner after Lewis Hall fouled debutant Victor Munoz, denying Newcastle a victory they had appeared likely to secure.

The result gives Iraola a point from his first game as Liverpool manager, but his side’s performance will raise concerns about the defensive weaknesses that contributed to Arne Slot’s dismissal at the end of last season.

Anthony Elanga put Newcastle ahead in the fifth minute before Cody Gakpo equalised shortly after half-time. Joe Willock restored the home side’s lead with his first Premier League goal since 2024, only for Liverpool to snatch a point in the final moments.

Iraola is the public face of a new chapter at Anfield following Slot’s close-season sacking and Mohamed Salah’s departure to Trabzonspor. Liverpool have also lost defenders Ibrahima Konate and Andrew Robertson to Real Madrid and Tottenham respectively.

For the first time since 2016, Liverpool began a campaign without Egypt forward Salah as their attacking talisman. The scale of the rebuilding job facing Iraola was apparent at St James’ Park, where Liverpool struggled to impose themselves and rarely looked capable of matching Arsenal, the reigning Premier League champions.

The former Bournemouth manager was praised last season for guiding the club to European qualification through his tactical intelligence and energetic approach. However, his new team produced an uncertain display, with debutant centre-back Jeremy Jacquet looking erratic alongside Virgil van Dijk and 17-year-old winger Rio Ngumoha unable to replicate the influence Salah had provided.

Newcastle’s opening goal exposed those problems. William Osula began the move with a sharp run and pass, allowing Elanga to race behind the flat-footed Milos Kerkez before finishing clinically into the far corner.

Ryan Gravenberch had been caught out of position in the build-up, while Van Dijk and Jacquet were slow to react as the Newcastle attack cut through Liverpool’s defence.

The home supporters had already made their feelings clear towards Alexander Isak, who returned to St James’ Park for the first time since his controversial £125m move to Liverpool last year. The Sweden striker had previously been a hero to the Toon Army after helping Newcastle end a 56-year wait for a trophy by winning the League Cup in 2025, but he was greeted by loud boos and chants labelling him “greedy”.

Those protests were briefly drowned out by celebrations after Elanga’s early finish. Newcastle then failed to take advantage of further opportunities, with Isak in particular unable to convert a number of chances.

Liverpool responded through Gakpo, despite uncertainty over his future amid reported interest from Tottenham. The Netherlands forward collected Gravenberch’s 55th-minute pass, turned sharply and fired a low shot from 25 yards beyond Lukas Hornicek.

Newcastle regained the lead only two minutes later. Yoane Wissa’s powerful run forced Liverpool backwards before Willock moved past Jeremie Frimpong and found the net with a composed finish from the edge of the penalty area.

But the hosts surrendered their advantage in the closing seconds. Hall’s foul on Munoz gave Liverpool a final opportunity, and Szoboszlai struck the resulting penalty into the top corner to secure a draw.

Before kick-off, supporters of both clubs joined in an emotional tribute to former Newcastle manager and Liverpool striker Kevin Keegan, who recently died aged 75.