Liverpool were made to work hard for a share of the spoils on the opening weekend of the Premier League season, with Dominik Szoboszlai converting a stoppage-time penalty to secure a 2-2 draw against Newcastle United at St James' Park.
The match carried extra significance due to the presence of Alexander Isak, who returned to Tyneside for the first time since his departure from Newcastle to face a predictably hostile reception from the home supporters throughout the afternoon. The Swedish striker endured jeers for the full 90 minutes but appeared unfazed by the atmosphere as he battled to make an impact for his new club.
The decisive moment arrived deep into second-half stoppage time when Lewis Hall was penalized for fouling Victor Munoz inside the penalty area, handing Liverpool a golden opportunity to snatch a point. With Mohamed Salah having left the club, uncertainty surrounded who would take responsibility for the spot-kick. Many eyes turned to Isak, given the occasion, but it was instead Szoboszlai who stepped forward and confidently drilled his effort into the top corner to complete the comeback and deny Newcastle victory.
Speaking after the match, Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola explained the decision-making process behind the penalty and praised Szoboszlai's composure under pressure. "I think we have not only Dom and Alexander [Isak] – 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. I was happy obviously because at the end we recovered one point."
The Liverpool boss also suggested his side may have been denied an earlier penalty involving the same player. "I also think there is a clearer penalty before the Victor [Munoz] one to Victor again, 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," he explained. Iraola went on to commend the impact of his substitutes, adding, "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."
On the topic of Isak's emotional return, Iraola insisted the striker handled the occasion well despite not finding the back of the net himself. "I think he expected a little bit the atmosphere, I don't think [it] has been a big surprise for him," the manager 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."
The result means both Newcastle and Liverpool begin their Premier League campaigns with a point apiece, though the manner of the draw will likely provoke mixed emotions on Tyneside, where fans watched their former forward deny the Magpies a first victory of the new season in the most dramatic circumstances possible.
Based on reporting from Standard Sport and BBC Sport.