Iraola says Liverpool subs will be crucial after Munoz cameo versus Newcastle

Andoni Iraola feels Liverpool's substitutes will be crucial in the early stages of his reign, with the Reds' players still unable to get through a full 90 minutes playing his style of football.

Liverpool salvaged a point to open their first Premier League campaign under Iraola on Sunday, with Dominik Szoboszlai scoring a 99th-minute penalty in a 2-2 draw with Newcastle United.

Newcastle had taken the lead early on through Anthony Elanga, with Cody Gakpo levelling for Liverpool early in the second half, only for Joe Willock to immediately put the Magpies 2-1 up.

Szoboszlai's last-gasp spot-kick came after substitute Victor Munoz – a former Newcastle transfer target who instead opted to join Liverpool from Osasuna – was clattered in the area by Lewis Hall.

And Iraola was pleased with Munoz's cameo off the bench as he highlighted the value of being able to introduce fresh energy against tiring opponents. 

"I don't think we deserved to lose the game today and I value the effort from the players," Iraola told Sky Sports. 

"I haven't looked at the stats, but I'm sure we will have had more chances, more everything. I think we were arriving, but we were not finishing anything.

"We had a lot of balls on the edge of the box and we were trying to overplay a little bit. And we had just to shoot, shoot, even from the first ball.

"I think the players coming off the bench gave us energy. I don't know if they played better or worse, but they gave us energy. 

"And you can feel that with the way we want to play, everyone is not going to last 90 minutes. So, we need this energy from the bench and I think today it happened."

Liverpool remain unbeaten on matchday one in the Premier League in each of the last 14 seasons (since 2013-14), the longest active run in the competition.

However, Arne Slot in 2024-25 is the only one of their last seven managers to win his first Premier League game in charge of the club (D4 L2).

Iraola, though, is still unbeaten in his last 19 Premier League games, having ended his final campaign with Bournemouth on an 18-match streak. 

Timed at 98 minutes and six seconds, Szoboszlai's equaliser was Liverpool's latest successful penalty in a Premier League game since Dirk Kuyt versus Arsenal in April 2011 (101:48).

And the Hungarian always felt confident when he stepped up, telling Sky Sports: "I didn't even know if it was going to be the decision, or if VAR would get involved. I was just focusing on myself. 

"When the decision was made, I just stepped up and tried my best. It's always before my run-up that I decide where I'm going to go.

"It was a nice game. I would be happier if we took the three points. But we take the positives, and we'll take the point."

Liverpool face Nottingham Forest next Saturday in their second Premier League game under Iraola, before visiting newly promoted Ipswich Town on September 4.