Dominik Szoboszlai's Last-Minute Penalty Salvages Draw for Liverpool Against Newcastle
Dominik Szoboszlai buried a penalty in the ninth minute of stoppage time to rip a point from Newcastle’s grasp and cap a wild Premier League contest that felt like a tribute act to Kevin Keegan’s heyday.
St James’ Park shook as the Hungary midfielder drilled home from 12 yards, dragging Liverpool level at 2-2 and stretching their unbeaten run on Tyneside to 10 league games. Lewis Hall was the fall guy, penalised for a late challenge on substitute Víctor Muñoz as the clock bled out and Newcastle edged towards a statement win.
It was brutal on Matthias Jaissle and his players. They had led twice. They had the crowd. They had Liverpool rocking. And then, with almost the final kick, it was gone.
Keegan in the stands, chaos on the pitch
This was a day built on nostalgia. Both teams emerged for the warm-up in Keegan number seven shirts, Tyneside and Merseyside briefly united in appreciation of the man who lit up both clubs. The emotion in the stands quickly hardened once the whistle went.
Alexander Isak, back at St James’ Park as a £130million Liverpool forward and a lightning rod for home anger, was booed from the first touch. Newcastle’s new era under Jaissle, though, needed no pantomime villain to spark it into life.
Within five minutes, the place erupted. Amar Dedic, impressive on debut, slid a clever ball into Will Osula, who weighted his pass perfectly for Anthony Elanga. The Sweden international burned past Milos Kerkez and, with Alisson Becker exposed, guided a right-foot finish across the keeper and into the far corner. One chance, one goal, and Newcastle were away.
Liverpool tried to respond immediately. Lukás Hornícek had to adjust sharply to beat away a deflected effort from Florian Wirtz on 18 minutes, but the visitors’ play was ragged. Misplaced passes, loose touches – Jaissle’s men kept inviting pressure, then slamming the door in Liverpool’s face.
Lewis Miley’s raking diagonal on 22 minutes picked out Dedic again, the full-back’s strike clipping Kerkez and looping behind for a corner. Jérémy Jacquet then read the danger smartly to stop Osula from racing onto a through-ball from Yoane Wissa, who was tormenting Liverpool’s back line with the kind of performance that will only sharpen the focus on Isak’s struggles.
For all their possession, Liverpool created little of real substance. Szoboszlai smacked a 26th-minute free-kick straight into the wall after Wissa tugged him back, and that summed up their first half: lots of territory, almost no incision. Newcastle hit the break with a slender but deserved 1-0 lead and a crowd fully behind them.
Gakpo strikes, Willock answers
Liverpool emerged with more purpose. Szoboszlai’s early corner caused panic, yet the clearer chance fell to Newcastle when Harvey Barnes and Elanga surged forward on the counter and wasted a promising break. Moments later, Miley stepped into space but dragged his 48th-minute effort, failing to test Alisson.
The warning signs for Newcastle were there. Cody Gakpo curled a 53rd-minute effort just over with Hornícek rooted. Two minutes later, the Dutchman didn’t miss. Given time and room 25 yards out, he lashed a skidding drive past the Newcastle keeper, the ball zipping low and true into the bottom corner. Liverpool, finally, had their equaliser.
St James’ Park barely had time to exhale.
Straight from the restart, Newcastle punched back. Wissa, who had been outstanding all afternoon, danced through a challenge and slipped the ball into substitute Joe Willock. On the pitch for seconds, Willock stepped inside and whipped a precise shot across Alisson and into the far corner.
2-1. Bedlam again. Jaissle clenched his fists on the touchline; Anfield’s travelling support slumped back into their seats.
Newcastle sensed a third. Jacob Ramsey, another substitute, met a bouncing ball with a 70th-minute volley but dragged it wide. Wissa then went clean through one-on-one, only for Alisson to stand tall and block, a huge save that kept Liverpool alive.
Late twist, familiar feeling
The game became stretched, anxious, messy. Jaissle, still only weeks into the job and with a squad that may yet change before the window closes, prowled his technical area, urging his players to stay compact. Across the divide, Andoni Iraola cut an increasingly agitated figure, knowing his side needed one more moment.
It came deep into stoppage time.
A ball into the box, a tangle involving Hall and Víctor Muñoz, and referee Stuart Attwell pointed to the spot. Hall stood in disbelief, arms out, as Newcastle’s players swarmed the official. The decision stood.
Szoboszlai waited, then strode forward and slammed his penalty home. No hesitation, no flourish. Just ruthless precision from 12 yards.
Liverpool escaped with a point, relief etched on Iraola’s face as he headed back across the Pennines, but also with a list of problems to solve. Newcastle walked off to warm applause and a sense of injustice, yet with a performance that hinted at something stirring under Jaissle.
On a day built to honour Keegan’s legacy of chaos and courage, both clubs delivered. The only question now is which of them can turn that drama into a season that actually lasts.
