Dominik Szoboszlai Takes Late Penalty for Liverpool Against Newcastle

Andoni Iraola has lifted the lid on why Dominik Szoboszlai – and not Alexander Isak – took Liverpool’s dramatic late penalty at St James’ Park.

Isak’s return to Tyneside, his first appearance back at Newcastle since his £125million move to Anfield in the summer, was always going to be loaded. Once adored, the Sweden striker is now cast firmly as the villain after forcing his way out, refusing to train or play in the final stretch before sealing his British-record transfer on Deadline Day.

The boos started early and never really stopped. Every touch, every run, every half-chance was met with hostility from the home crowd, who had not forgotten how it ended. Yet deep into stoppage time, it looked as if the script was about to flip.

Liverpool, trailing and chasing the game, won a penalty when Lewis Hall was judged to have brought down Victor Munoz in the box. With Mohamed Salah gone, there was no obvious, established taker. The cameras zoomed in on Isak, the noise inside St James’ Park rising as the possibility of a cold-blooded equaliser against his former club loomed.

Then Szoboszlai walked in and took the ball.

The Hungary international ignored the chaos, stepped up, and hammered his spot-kick into the roof of the net to snatch a point for Liverpool in their Premier League opener. Isak watched. Newcastle fumed. The away end erupted.

After the game, Iraola explained the decision.

“I think we have not only Dom and Alexander [Isak] – we have more very good specialists,” the Liverpool boss said. “Alexis [Mac Allister] also was on the pitch and he's a very good penalty-taker, Cody [Gakpo] – 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 wasn’t the only incident that stuck with Iraola. He felt Liverpool could have had another spot-kick before the one Munoz eventually won.

“I also think there is a clearer penalty before the Victor [Munoz] one to Victor again, 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 marquee signing handled a bitter, emotional afternoon.

“I think he expected a little bit the atmosphere, I don't think [it] has been a big surprise for him,” he said. “I think he has tried everything, has given us good positions on the ball.

“[He] 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.”

The boos will follow Isak for a while yet. The penalty debate might, too. But on day one of the season, it was Szoboszlai who grabbed the ball, the moment, and a point that could matter a lot more when the table settles.