NEWCASTLE, England, August 23, 2026 – Dominik Szoboszlai scored a dramatic stoppage-time penalty as Liverpool denied Newcastle an opening game victory at St James’ Park.
Goals from Anthony Elanga and Joe Willock seemed to have given Matthias Jaissle a winning start to life as Newcastle manager, with Cody Gakpo having briefly levelled for the visitors in the second half.
However, with seconds left Victor Munoz was brought down inside the box by Lewis Hall and Szoboszlai stepped up to hammer the penalty into the roof of the net.
It was perhaps fitting that the game ended in drama. Fans of both sides had come together before it started to pay tribute to Kevin Keegan, who died last month at the age of 75.
A large tifo showing images of Keegan along with the words “King Kev” was visible in one stand, while in the centre circle there was a moving mosaic of shirts left outside the stadium following the news of his death.
After a minute’s applause before kick-off it was Newcastle who made the dream start. Elanga scored his first goal for the club when he was sent away by William Osula and the forward sent a neat finish into the far corner.
Liverpool equalised after the break when Gakpo showed great accuracy to place a strike from distance beyond Newcastle goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek.
However, the Reds were level for just two minutes as substitute Willock restored Newcastle’s lead, finding the bottom corner with a clinical strike.
That looked like being the winner until Hall fouled Munoz and Szoboszlai stayed calm to fire home from the spot with almost the last kick of the game.
Newcastle analysis: Signs of encouragement for Jaissle side
Many Newcastle players had their heads in their hands at the final whistle, having seen the chance to claim an early win against a rival for the top four positions lost.
While the late drama will be a bitter pill to swallow there were still plenty of signs of encouragement over what is to come under their new head coach.
It had been a summer of change for Newcastle with long-serving manager Eddie Howe having been replaced by German Jaissle, while a number of key players also departed.
It was their midfield that took the biggest hit as their former captain Bruno Guimaraes moved to defending champions Arsenal, while Sandro Tonali also made the move to London to join Tottenham.
Jaissle arrived with a reputation of playing high intensity, high pressing football and that was evident in the early stages as Liverpool struggled deal with the pace of the Newcastle attack.
A number of players also looked reborn with Elanga – who joined Newcastle last year – in particular impressive. He showed the sort of clinical touch for his goal that he was missing last season, while he enjoyed an encouraging link-up with William Osula.
Wissa also had an excellent game, although he will rue a late opportunity that would have put the game beyond Liverpool when he charged through on goal, but shot straight at Alisson.
Liverpool analysis: Late drama won’t mask areas of concern
Liverpool deserve credit for not giving up and fighting until the end, but the draw will only paper over some of the cracks that had been on display.
The Reds had 60% possession and 27 attempts on goal but despite that too many players had below-par games.
Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez disappointed in the full-back positions, while Alexander Isak was quiet on his first return to the side he left last September for a £125m move to Anfield.
Instead, Liverpool most dangerous player was Gakpo, yet his future at the club is uncertain amid links with a move to Tottenham, and what happens this week in the transfer market – both in terms of incomings and outgoings – could prove pivotal in determining the sort of season Andoni Iraola’s side will have.
