Isak Booed in Tyneside as Szoboszlai's Late Penalty Rescues Liverpool
Alexander Isak walked back into St James’ Park and straight into a wall of noise. None of it was friendly.
Every touch from the former Newcastle striker drew howls. Boos rained down, a furious chant branding him “greedy” rolled around the stands again and again. One thunderous challenge from Lewis Hall that sent Isak sprawling drew a roar almost as loud as either of Newcastle’s goals.
On the pitch, he never answered the hostility. His finishing deserted him, his influence faded, and Liverpool’s £125 million forward looked a long way from justifying that huge fee.
Andoni Iraola, though, refused to pin anything on the atmosphere or his misfiring No 9 after a chaotic 2-2 draw in his first Premier League match in charge.
“He expected a bit the atmosphere, it was not a big surprise for him,” the new Liverpool manager said. “He has tried everything, given us good positions on the ball, has had a couple of situations to finish in the box but not the clearest but I value that he has continued pushing, fighting.”
Hostile homecoming, familiar problems
This was Isak’s first return to Tyneside since his acrimonious move to Anfield last year. That transfer, a blockbuster deal that turned him into one of the most expensive players in Liverpool’s history, never caught fire in its first season. Injuries, poor form, and a spluttering attack combined to leave him well short of expectations.
On this evidence, the reset under Iraola will not be instant.
While Isak struggled, Liverpool’s old issues flared up again. The defensive frailties that undermined them last season were on full display, and Iraola came within seconds of opening his reign with a defeat.
Anthony Elanga punished Liverpool early, striking to give Newcastle a deserved lead and ignite an already febrile home crowd. After the break, Cody Gakpo dragged the visitors level, only for Newcastle to respond almost immediately.
Joe Willock, just on from the bench, restored the advantage and seemed to have handed new head coach Matthias Jaissle a statement win on his first afternoon in the home dugout.
Stoppage-time drama
St James’ Park was ready to celebrate. Then came the twist.
Deep into stoppage time, Hall lunged in on Victor Munoz inside the box. It was clumsy rather than malicious, but it gave the referee a decision to make. He pointed to the spot.
Dominik Szoboszlai stepped up and hammered the penalty high into the roof of the net. The away end erupted; Iraola exhaled.
“We scored at the end, so probably you have a better taste. But before the game we wouldn't have signed for this result,” Iraola admitted, a draw feeling like a let-off after such a ragged defensive display.
Jaissle fumes at ‘soft’ call, praises young core
On the opposite bench, Jaissle cut a very different figure. His first game as Newcastle manager, after Eddie Howe’s shock resignation earlier in August, had been seconds from the perfect start.
Instead, he was left to stew over the late penalty that turned three points into one.
“It was indeed a game of mixed feelings, especially in the end when you get a decision, two points away, it is really hard to digest,” he said. “For me it is a really soft penalty as you call it here, if you give these penalties then you need to give a lot in the season.”
The frustration over the decision did not drown out his pride in a patched-up side. Newcastle played with aggression and control for long spells despite being without key figures Dan Burn and Joelinton.
“There is also a lot of confidence and we are really proud of what we saw, the young lads were doing an amazing job with all the challenges of a transition period,” Jaissle said. “This was special, already delivering on a high level and it makes us proud. We've a really good base to build on.”
As for Liverpool, they leave with a point, a reminder of their old weaknesses, and a centre-forward still searching for his spark under a new manager. The boos will fade. The question over when Isak finally plays like a £125 million striker will not.
