Dominik Szoboszlai's Late Penalty Secures Draw for Liverpool Against Newcastle
Andoni Iraola has lifted the lid on why Dominik Szoboszlai – and not Alexander Isak – took Liverpool’s late penalty at St James’ Park, denying Newcastle a dream start to the season.
Isak’s return to Tyneside was always going to be raw. Twelve months on from his £125million move, the former Newcastle talisman walked back into the stadium where he once carried the hopes of the home crowd, now wearing Liverpool red and facing a wall of hostility from the stands he used to ignite.
He didn’t just leave. He forced his way out. The Sweden international refused to train or play as he pushed through what became a British-record transfer on Deadline Day. Newcastle fans did not forget. From the warm-up to the final whistle, every touch drew a chorus of boos.
For a moment, it looked like the script was writing itself.
Deep into second-half stoppage time, Victor Munoz went down under a challenge from Lewis Hall. The referee pointed to the spot. With Mohamed Salah gone, there was no obvious, established penalty-taker in Liverpool’s new-look attack. All eyes went straight to Isak. The noise rose, the cameras locked on.
Then Szoboszlai stepped forward.
The Hungary international grabbed the ball, placed it down and thumped his penalty into the roof of the net, leaving Newcastle’s goalkeeper with no chance and snatching a point for Liverpool in their Premier League opener.
After the game, Iraola explained the thinking behind that decision.
“I think we have not only Dom and Alexander – we have more very good specialists,” the Liverpool boss said. “Alexis also was on the pitch and he's a very good penalty-taker, Cody – we have a lot.
“But I think Dom showed the level. It's an almost impossible penalty to stop. I was happy obviously because at the end we recovered one point.”
The equaliser capped a chaotic finale, but Iraola felt Liverpool could have been given a spot-kick even earlier for another foul on Munoz.
“I also think there is a clearer penalty before the Victor one to Victor again,” he said. “But I think the referee whistles just before, so they cannot give it to you, but I think it was even more clear than the second one.
“I'm happy also for Victor because he has created problems to his opposition and I think these players from the bench that can alter games are going to be important for us.”
As for Isak, Iraola was satisfied with how his striker handled the venom and the occasion, even without the fairytale – or villain – penalty moment.
“I think he expected a little bit the atmosphere, I don't think has been a big surprise for him,” he said. “I think he has tried everything, has given us good positions on the ball.
“Probably has had a couple of situations to finish inside the box, but probably not the clearest that he wanted or we wanted, but I value that. He has continued pushing on in the game, fighting, and I think it's a good step for Alex for being the first game.”
No redemption arc from the spot. No final twist. Just a hostile homecoming, a ruthless penalty from Szoboszlai, and an early reminder that Liverpool’s new era will spread responsibility across more than one star.
