Liverpool opened the defense of their Premier League title with a stumble turned into a rescue act, drawing 2-2 at Newcastle United on Sunday after Dominik Szoboszlai converted a stoppage-time penalty in the ninth minute of second-half added time. The result denied Newcastle what would have been their first league win over Liverpool since December 2015, and it handed both clubs' new head coaches a suitably chaotic introduction to life in the Premier League.
Anthony Elanga put Newcastle ahead inside five minutes, finishing a fast break in front of a St James' Park crowd desperate for a statement opening-day result. Liverpool leveled through Cody Gakpo in the 55th minute, only for Joe Willock to restore Newcastle's lead two minutes later with a curling effort from range. Newcastle held that 2-1 scoreline deep into stoppage time before Lewis Hall was penalized for a foul on debutant Víctor Muñoz in the box in the 99th minute. Szoboszlai stepped up and beat goalkeeper Nick Pope to complete the comeback.
A penalty that split opinion
Referee Stuart Attwell pointed to the spot after Hall's challenge on Muñoz, a decision that Newcastle's players surrounded him to contest. Liverpool had gone to Szoboszlai as their new penalty taker in the absence of Mohamed Salah, and his finish arrived at 98 minutes and 6 seconds — among the latest equalizing penalties in the competition's history. The award proved the pivotal moment of an afternoon that had otherwise belonged to Newcastle's front line, with Yoane Wissa twice missing chances that could have sealed a win before the penalty was awarded.
The draw was also a numbers story. Liverpool have now gone unbeaten on the opening weekend of the Premier League season for 14 consecutive campaigns, a run tracked in detail by Opta's data team. Newcastle, meanwhile, remain without a league victory over Liverpool in nearly eleven years, a drought that survived Sunday's near-miss by the narrowest of margins.
Two coaches, two very different afternoons
The match doubled as the competitive bow for both clubs' new head coaches. Andoni Iraola took his first Premier League game in charge of Liverpool after arriving from Bournemouth this summer to replace Arne Slot, while Matthias Jaissle made his Newcastle debut having been hired away from Al-Hilal earlier this month following Eddie Howe's departure after nearly five years at the club.
Iraola credited his substitutes for driving the late fightback and struck a measured tone about the result.
We started the game the worst way we knew. Newcastle away, first game of the season, the atmosphere, they have very fast players and we concede the goal. But we didn't give up in any moment.
Andoni Iraola, Liverpool head coach
Jaissle, by contrast, left St James' Park frustrated with the officiating rather than his team's performance, arguing the contact on Muñoz did not merit a spot kick.
For me, it was no penalty — it was a really soft one. If you give that, we will see many, many penalties throughout the season.
Matthias Jaissle, Newcastle head coach
Both coaches nonetheless found something to build on. Iraola singled out his summer signings for their impact off the bench, telling reporters at his post-match press conference that the penalty itself was close to unstoppable, while Jaissle acknowledged his squad is still working through what he called a transition phase under a new system.
The point leaves both clubs level after one match apiece, with the rest of August offering an immediate reset. Liverpool return to Anfield next weekend to host Nottingham Forest in their first home fixture of the Iraola era, while Newcastle turn to the League Cup, facing West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday before their own return to Premier League action. Neither Jaissle nor Iraola will have much time to dwell on Sunday's late drama before their methods face their next test.
