Iraola praises Liverpool’s fightback after Newcastle draw as Isak returns to St James’ Park

Andoni Iraola praised Liverpool’s determination after they fought back to draw 2-2 with Newcastle United in the opening round of the Premier League, insisting his players continued to battle until the final moments.

Newcastle appeared set to claim victory before Liverpool’s late response secured a share of the points in the first 2-2 draw of the Premier League season. Anthony Elanga and Joe Willock scored for the hosts, while Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai were on target for Liverpool.

Iraola said the late equaliser rewarded Liverpool’s refusal to give up.

“I think when you score at the end, you feel better. Before the game, maybe we would not have accepted this result, but the truth is that it is a reward for us because we never gave up,” he said at his news conference.

Liverpool had created pressure as they searched for a way back into the match, and Iraola felt the outcome could have been different had they found their second goal sooner.

“We did a lot to score the equaliser, and if we had managed to score a little earlier, maybe the game would have gone our way,” he added.

The Liverpool manager also addressed the way his team conceded both of Newcastle’s goals. He said the nature of the opposition meant his side had to be prepared for the threat posed by Newcastle’s pace in attack.

“It is not surprising to face a team like Newcastle, who have one of the fastest attacking lines in the league in terms of speed. There are different reasons why we conceded the two goals, although both came from counter-attacks,” said Iraola.

The match also marked Alexander Isak’s return to St James’ Park. Iraola said the Sweden international had been able to anticipate the atmosphere and was not caught off guard by the reception.

“I think he was expecting the atmosphere to some extent, so I do not think it was a big surprise for him. He tried to give everything and gave us good positions with the ball,” Iraola said.

“He kept fighting until the end of the game, and I think it was a good step for Alex in his first match.”

The occasion also included a tribute to Kevin Keegan, the former Liverpool and Newcastle United legend who died during the summer before the start of the season.

Despite surrendering their lead, Newcastle were unable to hold on for the win, while Liverpool’s late recovery ensured both teams began their Premier League campaigns with a point. The result was the first draw of the new league season.