Dominik Szoboszlai's dramatic 99th-minute penalty earned Liverpool a point against Newcastle United in a hard-fought 2-2 draw at St James' Park. The late equalizer came after Newcastle had taken the lead twice in a match that saw mixed performances from both sides.
Newcastle opened the scoring through Anthony Elanga, only for Cody Gakpo to level the match for Liverpool. The home side then went ahead again with a goal from substitute Joe Willock. The drama concluded with Szoboszlai's spot-kick, which salvaged a draw for Liverpool.
Newcastle's player ratings highlighted strong performances from Yoane Wissa, who was described as "unplayable at times" in an attacking midfield role, and Will Osula, who provided a stellar assist for the opening goal and was considered the best No. 9 on the pitch. Goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek and defenders Amar Dedic, Malick Thiaw, and Sven Botman also received positive marks for their defensive contributions. However, Lewis Hall was noted for conceding a "stupid spot-kick" in the final moments.
For Liverpool, Cody Gakpo scored a stunning equalizer and was considered the team's best attacker, despite speculation linking him with a move to Tottenham. Dominik Szoboszlai's penalty was crucial, though his overall performance was described as bailing out teammates who were "poor overall." Goalkeeper Alisson made several saves, but questions were raised about his positioning for Newcastle's first goal. Defenders Virgil van Dijk and Jeremie Frimpong were noted as struggling at times.
Manager Andoni Iraola of Liverpool acknowledged the need for new signings following the draw, suggesting that his ambitions for the season may require further squad strengthening. Newcastle's new manager, Matthias Jaissle, was noted for his tactical decisions, which nearly secured a victory in his Premier League debut.
The match saw Alexander Isak, returning to his former ground, booed with every touch. He, along with Florian Wirtz and Ryan Gravenberch, received low ratings, indicating anonymous or exposed performances respectively.