Szoboszlai's stoppage time penalty rescues a point for Liverpool at Newcastle

[Freddie_47]

Liverpool's new era under Andoni Iraola got off to a dramatic, nearly disastrous start on Sunday, needing a penalty in the ninth minute of stoppage time just to salvage a 2-2 draw away at Newcastle. It was also Matthias Jaissle's first competitive match in charge of Newcastle, making this a genuine collision of new management eras at both clubs on opening weekend.

Newcastle raced into an early lead through Anthony Elanga in the fifth minute, capitalizing on a fast break that Liverpool's defense simply failed to deal with. Cody Gakpo pulled Liverpool level just after the hour mark with a well taken finish from outside the box, only for Newcastle substitute Joe Willock to restore the lead within 176 seconds of coming off the bench, an absurdly quick impact for a player who'd barely had time to catch his breath.

For most of the second half it looked like Newcastle would hold on for a statement opening day win. Yoane Wissa missed two clear chances that could have put the result beyond doubt, and it was that missed insurance that came back to haunt the home side. Deep into stoppage time, substitute Victor Munoz won a penalty after Lewis Hall brought him down, and Dominik Szoboszlai stepped up to hammer home the equalizer in the very last kick of the ninth added minute.

The match carried extra emotional weight too, with both sets of players and supporters paying tribute to the late Kevin Keegan before kickoff, a manager whose legacy touches both clubs. Newcastle's own new manager Jaissle will be left to reflect on a performance that had victory in his grasp before it slipped away in the cruelest possible fashion, while Iraola escapes his managerial debut with a point that flatters a Liverpool performance that looked shaky for long stretches of the afternoon

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