Dominik Szoboszlai Takes Late Penalty for Liverpool Instead of Isak

Andoni Iraola has revealed why Dominik Szoboszlai, not Alexander Isak, took Liverpool’s dramatic late penalty at St James’ Park – on a day when the narrative seemed written for a different ending.

Isak’s first return to Tyneside since his £125million move last summer was always going to be raw. Once adored, the Sweden international walked away from Newcastle in acrimonious fashion, refusing to train or play as he forced through a British-record switch to Liverpool on Deadline Day. The boos started early and never really stopped.

By stoppage time, the script looked set. Liverpool, trailing in their Premier League opener, won a penalty after Lewis Hall was judged to have brought down Victor Munoz in the box. Mohamed Salah is gone, the usual order has changed, and all eyes turned to Isak. The cameras zoomed in. The noise rose. This was the moment to silence the jeers.

Then Szoboszlai strode in.

The Hungary international grabbed the ball, ignored the chaos around him and hammered his spot-kick into the roof of the net. No hesitation, no debate, no chance for the goalkeeper. One clean strike, one salvaged point for Liverpool, and Isak left to watch from the edge of the area.

Asked afterwards why Szoboszlai, and not Isak, took the penalty, Iraola made it clear there was never just one option.

“I think we have not only Dom and Alexander – we have more very good specialists,” the Liverpool boss said. “Alexis also was on the pitch and he's a very good penalty-taker, Cody – 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 penalty that was given wasn’t the only one Iraola had in mind. He pointed to an earlier incident involving Munoz, one he felt had an even stronger claim.

“I also think there is a clearer penalty before the Victor one to Victor again,” he said. “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.”

If Szoboszlai stole the late spotlight, Isak’s performance still carried weight for his new manager. The boos, the hostility, the sense of betrayal from the stands – none of it came as a shock.

“I think he expected a little bit the atmosphere, I don't think has been a big surprise for him,” Iraola 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.”

So on a day built around one man’s return, it was another who took centre stage from 12 yards. Szoboszlai left with the headline moment, Isak with a bruising reminder of what he left behind – and a long season ahead to prove that Liverpool were right to bend their attack around him.