Szoboszlai’s Late Penalty Rescues Liverpool Against Newcastle

Dominik Szoboszlai stepped up in the ninth minute of stoppage time, the noise at St James’ Park hanging in the air, then collapsing into silence. One clean strike later, Liverpool had stolen a 2-2 draw from a game Newcastle thought they had already won.

What had been an opening-day statement for Newcastle under Matthias Jaissle turned into a brutal reminder of how quickly Liverpool can punish a lapse.

Elanga’s early spark

Newcastle exploded out of the blocks. On just five minutes, Anthony Elanga found the breakthrough, capping a bright start from the hosts and sending the home crowd into full voice. Liverpool, under new head coach Andoni Iraola, looked rattled and short of rhythm.

For a long spell, Newcastle fed off that early goal. They pressed, they harried, and they kept Liverpool’s new-look attack largely at arm’s length. Alexander Isak, back in the north-east after an injury-hit first season at Liverpool following his move from Newcastle, barely had a kick against his former club. The subplot never caught fire.

Liverpool, though, refused to go away.

Gakpo drags Liverpool back

The visitors finally found their edge after the break. On 55 minutes, Cody Gakpo changed the mood. He drilled home the equaliser, a sharp, decisive finish that cut through the noise and gave Liverpool a foothold they had struggled to claim.

Newcastle’s response was ruthless.

Barely two minutes later, Elanga surged forward again, tearing upfield with space to attack. He slipped the ball to Joe Willock, who didn’t hesitate. Willock curled a superb long-range effort beyond Alisson, restoring Newcastle’s lead and sending Jaissle charging down the touchline as St James’ Park erupted once more.

The clock ticked, the tension rose, and Newcastle edged closer to a perfect start under their new manager.

Late twist in stoppage time

Then came the moment that flipped everything.

Deep into added time, Liverpool debutant Víctor Muñoz burst into the box. Lewis Hall mistimed his challenge and caught him, the referee pointing straight to the spot as the stadium’s roar turned into a stunned hush.

Szoboszlai took command. No hesitation, no sign of the pressure. He buried the penalty with authority, levelling the match in the ninth minute of stoppage time and ripping the victory from Newcastle’s grasp.

Jaissle and Iraola, both making their league bows with their new clubs, were left to share the points on a night that swung wildly between promise and frustration for each of them.

Before any of that drama, both clubs had stood together in an emotional tribute to Kevin Keegan, the iconic figure of both Liverpool and Newcastle, who recently died at the age of 75. The game that followed, breathless and raw, felt like the kind of spectacle he would have relished.