Dominik Szoboszlai Shines as Liverpool Draw with Newcastle
Dominik Szoboszlai walked into the St James’ Park storm and left with the ball, a point and, quite possibly, Liverpool’s penalty mantle.
In the 90th minute, with the noise rising and Newcastle sensing a statement win under Matthias Jaissle, the Hungarian stepped up from 12 yards and leathered his spot-kick into the top corner. No hesitation, no glance at Alexander Isak, no debate. Just a ruthless strike that froze the home crowd and dragged Liverpool to a 2-2 draw they had no real right to claim.
“I was practising a lot in the pre-season… in training,” Szoboszlai said afterwards, thanking the back-up goalkeepers who had faced him all summer. The work showed. Nick Pope might as well have been nailed to the line.
Szoboszlai takes centre stage
This was more than a single kick. It was a glimpse of Liverpool’s new order in the post-Mohamed Salah era from the spot.
Isak, back at St James’ Park and usually a smooth operator from 12 yards, watched as Szoboszlai grabbed the ball. Andoni Iraola, calm about the hierarchy, insisted there is a stable of takers.
“I think we have not only Dom and Alexander – we have more very good specialists. Alexis Mac Allister also was on the pitch and he’s a very good penalty-taker, Cody Gakpo – we have a lot,” Iraola said. “But I think Dom showed the level. It’s an almost impossible penalty to stop.”
The numbers backed up his authority. Szoboszlai not only scored the penalty, he controlled Liverpool’s dead-ball duties throughout, taking every corner and free-kick. In a game that swung wildly, his delivery and composure were a rare constant.
Before his late intervention, Gakpo had dragged Liverpool back into it with a sharp, drilled finish from outside the box, finding the bottom corner with precision. The Dutchman was relentless: six shots, the most of any player in Gameweek 1 so far, and a defensive contribution strong enough to push him to 12 points in Fantasy terms. He was everywhere, driving at the back line, snapping into challenges, carrying Liverpool forward almost by force of will.
Isak and Wirtz struggle in the spotlight
On the other side, the narrative had been written in advance: Isak, the returning hero, leading Newcastle’s new era. The reality was far more awkward.
Newcastle’s centre-forward never quite escaped Liverpool’s grip. He was involved in five of their attacking moments, either shooting or creating, but this was a day of half-chances and near-misses. A header blocked. A shot ballooned over from just inside the box. Frustration seeped into his body language as the game wore on.
“I think he expected a little bit the atmosphere,” Iraola said. “I don’t think it has been a big surprise for him… [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.”
Florian Wirtz, playing alongside Isak in a front two, fared no better. Hooked just after the hour mark, his most notable moment was an early effort denied by a solid save from Lukas Hornicek. For a player of his talent, it was a muted Premier League introduction.
Liverpool had their own underperformers. Both full-backs struggled to impose themselves. Rio Ngumoha looked uncomfortable on the right, repeatedly pinned back and hesitant in possession. His replacement, Victor Munoz, made an instant impact, driving at the defence and eventually winning the late penalty that Szoboszlai buried.
At the back, Liverpool’s structure creaked. The team did not convince defensively, even if Jeremy Jacquet emerged with some credit before his 70th-minute withdrawal.
“Jeremy hasn’t done a proper pre-season, so it was kind of expected he didn’t finish the game,” Iraola explained. “All the substitutes gave us energy. We need it because it’s difficult to last the full 90 minutes with the same players the way we want to play. Players coming off the bench can affect the game.”
They did. Just not quite enough to turn one point into three.
Wissa leads the Jaissle charge
For long stretches, this felt like Newcastle’s afternoon. Under Jaissle, there was a clear plan: intensity, verticality, fast breaks. It worked.
Anthony Elanga struck, Joe Willock came off the bench to score, but Yoane Wissa was the heartbeat. Operating as a No 10 behind Will Osula, he constantly found pockets of space, linked play and drove at Liverpool’s back line with purpose.
He did waste a couple of big chances, yet his influence never dipped. One surging carry through midfield opened Liverpool up and teed up Willock’s goal, a move that encapsulated Jaissle’s blueprint – win the ball, turn quickly, attack the space.
“With the new role he’s given me it’s given me a lot of confidence. I’m one of the leaders so I need to back him,” Wissa said of his manager. “The manager expects me to be a leader and lead the group. He wants me to be winning balls, making sure everyone is going forward, going for the kill, and sometimes just be calm. He wants me to keep up the energy.”
On this evidence, Wissa will be a problem for Tottenham Hotspur next weekend. Both Newcastle goals came from rapid transitions and balls slid in behind; Spurs, who like to squeeze high, have been warned.
Behind him, Hornicek and Amar Dedic looked assured, dealing with waves of pressure as Liverpool racked up 27 shots. Lewis Miley, still easing back after a limited pre-season, grew into the game and impressed in midfield, knitting play and covering ground.
Injuries bite and questions linger
There was a sour note for Newcastle before kick-off. Captain Dan Burn, a cornerstone of the back line, arrived at St James’ Park on crutches, his ankle in a protective boot after an injury in training. He is expected to miss the next few weeks, a significant blow so early in the campaign.
Osula also worried the bench when he appeared to be struggling after a collision. He battled on but was eventually withdrawn in the 56th minute. Newcastle face West Bromwich Albion in the EFL Cup in midweek, when Jaissle is likely to offer an update on both his striker and his captain.
For Liverpool, the story leaves a different kind of question hanging in the air. Szoboszlai has made a powerful claim on penalty duties and on the team’s creative reins. Gakpo looks sharp, hungry, ready to carry more of the scoring load. The defence, though, remains a live issue.
Newcastle, meanwhile, walk away with a single point but a performance full of conviction under their new manager. If this is the starting level, what happens when Isak clicks, Wirtz settles and Burn returns?
