Szoboszlai’s Ice-Cold Penalty Secures Draw for Liverpool Against Newcastle
Dominik Szoboszlai needed one kick. Ninety‑plus minutes of noise, nerves and needle at St James’ Park came down to that single moment from 12 yards – and Liverpool’s new midfield leader did not blink.
Deep into stoppage time, with Newcastle already tasting an opening‑day victory, Lewis Hall clipped Liverpool debutant Víctor Muñoz in the box. The roar turned to a gasp. The stadium froze. Szoboszlai stepped up and buried the penalty in the ninth minute of added time, drilling a ruthless equaliser to seal a 2-2 draw and rip the result out of Newcastle’s hands.
It felt like a steal.
Elanga sets the tone, Gakpo hits back
The afternoon had started perfectly for Matthias Jaissle. Just five minutes into his first league match in charge of Newcastle, Anthony Elanga tore into Liverpool’s back line and gave the hosts liftoff with the opener. St James’ Park, already crackling after an emotional pre-match tribute to Kevin Keegan, erupted.
Liverpool, under new boss Andoni Iraola, looked rattled early on but slowly clawed their way into the contest. The reward came on 55 minutes. Cody Gakpo, sharp and decisive, found space and drilled home the equaliser, a clean finish that briefly quietened the home crowd and suggested Iraola’s side had settled.
The calm did not last.
Barely two minutes later, Elanga exploded forward again, this time turning provider. Charging upfield, he released Joe Willock, who took aim from distance and curled a superb long-range strike beyond Alisson. One punch from Gakpo, an immediate counterpunch from Willock. Newcastle back in front, and Jaissle bouncing on the touchline.
Late twist denies Jaissle dream start
From there, Newcastle managed the game and looked on course to hand their new manager a statement win to open the campaign. Liverpool probed without truly breaking the hosts’ grip, while the noise from the stands grew with every clearance and tackle.
On his return to the north-east, Alexander Isak – whose first season at Liverpool had been disrupted by injury after his move from Newcastle – found little joy. The former home hero was kept quiet, marshalled effectively and starved of the kind of service that once made him a favourite at this ground.
Just as Newcastle edged towards the finish line, the late chaos arrived. Hall’s foul on Muñoz turned jubilation into disbelief, the penalty award silencing a crowd that had been ready to celebrate. Szoboszlai, cool in the storm, lashed home and wheeled away to the travelling supporters, leaving Jaissle to swallow a harsh lesson in Premier League cruelty.
For Iraola, it was not the victory he wanted, but it was a rescue act that keeps Liverpool steady under new management. For Jaissle, it was a reminder that in this league, even on nights that feel under control, nothing is safe until the whistle goes.
