Dominik Szoboszlai's Late Penalty Salvages Draw for Liverpool
Dominik Szoboszlai buried a penalty in the ninth minute of stoppage time to rip a point from Newcastle’s hands and cap a breathless Premier League contest that felt straight out of Kevin Keegan’s heyday.
St James’ Park shook when the Hungary midfielder drilled his spot-kick past Lukás Hornícek for 2-2, stretching Liverpool’s unbeaten run on Tyneside to 10 games. The decision, given after Lewis Hall was judged to have tripped substitute Víctor Muñoz, left Newcastle players stunned and the home crowd furious.
They had every reason to feel aggrieved. Joe Willock, thrown on just before the hour, looked to have delivered the perfect impact substitute’s goal, restoring Newcastle’s lead within seconds of coming on after Cody Gakpo had dragged Liverpool level.
On a day built around nostalgia and noise, Tyneside and Merseyside had come together before kick-off to honour Keegan’s legacy at both clubs. Players from each side warmed up in number seven shirts bearing his name, the tribute stirring but brief. Once the whistle went, the mood turned raw.
Alexander Isak, back at St James’ Park in opposition colours and carrying the weight of a £130million price tag, walked into a wall of hostility from the 52,630 crowd. Every touch brought a chorus of jeers. Every misstep fed the narrative of a miserable return.
At the other end, Yoane Wissa produced his most complete performance yet in a Newcastle shirt, relentless in his movement and menace, the kind of display that underlined why the club were willing to reshape their attack in the first place.
Newcastle strike first
The home side struck early and with style. After just five minutes, Amar Dedic, impressive on debut, slid a clever pass into Will Osula, who in turn threaded a perfectly weighted ball into the stride of Anthony Elanga. The Sweden international burned past Milos Kerkez and, with Alisson Becker exposed, guided a right-foot finish low across the goalkeeper and into the far corner.
The roar said everything. So did Liverpool’s reaction.
The visitors responded with possession and pressure, if not immediate precision. Hornícek had to be sharp in the 18th minute, adjusting well to beat away a deflected effort from Florian Wirtz. But Newcastle, under new boss Matthias Jaissle, were loose at times, coughing up the ball in dangerous areas and inviting attacks they didn’t need to face.
Jaissle, still only weeks into the job and working with a squad that could yet change again before the window closes, saw both the risk and the reward of his high-tempo approach. Lewis Miley sprayed a superb diagonal in the 22nd minute to pick out Dedic, whose shot flicked off Kerkez and spun behind. Moments later, Jérémy Jacquet read the danger just in time to stop Osula latching onto a through-ball from Wissa.
Liverpool’s control of the ball rarely translated into incision. Szoboszlai smashed a 26th-minute free-kick straight into the wall after Wissa tugged him back, and that summed up much of their first-half frustration. Newcastle’s narrow lead survived to the interval with relatively few alarms.
Momentum swings after the break
Szoboszlai emerged after the restart intent on changing the script. His early corner caused panic, yet it was Newcastle who almost landed the next blow. Harvey Barnes and Elanga broke at speed but wasted the chance to punish Liverpool on the counter, and Miley failed to trouble Alisson with a 48th-minute effort.
The warning signs were there. Gakpo curled just over from the edge of the box in the 53rd minute, Hornícek rooted, and that near miss felt like a rehearsal.
Two minutes later, the Dutchman did not miss. Given time and space 25 yards out, Gakpo stepped onto the ball and lashed a skidding drive past Hornícek, the keeper beaten before he could react. Liverpool finally had the equaliser their pressure hinted at.
St James’ Park barely had time to process it.
Newcastle hit straight back. Wissa, sharp and elusive all afternoon, danced through a gap and rolled the ball into Willock. The midfielder shifted inside and arrowed a precise shot across Alisson and into the far corner. One touch, one stride, one ruthless finish. 2-1, and the stadium erupted again.
Jaissle’s side smelled blood. Jacob Ramsey, another substitute, volleyed wide on 70 minutes when he should have done better. Wissa then burst clear one-on-one, only for Alisson to stand tall and block. Those misses would loom large as the clock ticked deep into added time.
Late drama and a sting in the tale
Liverpool pushed, but Newcastle looked as if they had weathered the storm. Tackles flew in, clearances were cheered like goals, and the home fans were already beginning to savour a statement win over one of the league’s heavyweights.
Then came the twist.
In stoppage time, Hall tangled with Víctor Muñoz in the box. To the defender’s disbelief, and amid howls from the stands, referee Stuart Attwell pointed straight to the spot. Hall looked stunned, hands on head, as Liverpool’s players seized the ball.
Szoboszlai stepped up. No fuss, no delay. From 12 yards, he hammered the penalty home, low and emphatic, silencing the noise and snatching a point that had seemed to be slipping away.
Jaissle could still take plenty from what he’d seen: intensity, invention, and a team already starting to reflect his ideas, even if the result felt like a punch to the gut. On the opposite bench, Andoni Iraola left relieved to escape with a draw, yet fully aware that questions over his side’s fragility and cutting edge will not disappear.
Newcastle had the night, the atmosphere, and for long spells, the game. Liverpool had the last word.
The next time these two meet, who dares blink first?
