Dominik Szoboszlai's last-gasp penalty earned Andoni Iraola a debut Liverpool point to deny Newcastle a deserved win on Matthias Jaissle's managerial debut in a pulsating 2-2 draw at St James' Park.
2026/2027 Premier League
2-2
Match Report
The Jaissle era seemed set to get up and running with a victory as Liverpool – themselves under new management, with Andoni Iraola overseeing his first competitive game in charge of the Reds – toiled in attack when trailing to Joe Willock's strike.
Willock had scored less than two minutes after he had come on as a substitute, with his fine finish coming just 176 seconds on from Cody Gakpo cancelling out Anthony Elanga's early opener.
Yoane Wissa missed two great chances to put the result beyond doubt, though, and Newcastle were punished in the final minute of stoppage time, when Lewis Hall brought down Victor Munoz, a former Magpies transfer target.
Newcastle old boy Alexander Isak, who had a poor game, did not step up to take the spot-kick. Instead, Szoboszlai hammered home to ensure the spoils were shared.
Following emotional pre-match tributes to Kevin Keegan, Elanga got the ball rolling in the fifth minute, slotting in on the counter-attack to end a run of 40 Premier League games without a goal, dating back to his time with Nottingham Forest.
Florian Wirtz went close to an equaliser for Liverpool, but the Reds did not truly trouble Lukas Hornicek for the rest of the first half.
However, Hornicek was picking the ball out of his net in the 55th minute, with Gakpo having brilliantly found the bottom-left corner with a drilled effort from distance.
Yet Newcastle were swiftly back ahead as Willock superbly finished, following a wonderful run from Wissa.
Wissa then missed some glorious chances, first failing to tuck in from Hall's crisp cross, before then seeing an effort saved by Alisson from close range.
And those misses proved decisive as Munoz was brought down by Hall, with Szoboszlai making no mistake in the ninth minute of stoppage time.
Newcastle 2-2 Liverpool
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) August 23, 2026
Another dramatic finish in a Newcastle vs Liverpool fixture sees Dominik Szoboszlai score a 99th-minute penalty to secure a point. pic.twitter.com/3XbniehTWH
More late agony for Newcastle
The corresponding fixture last season saw Liverpool win 3-2 thanks to a late strike from Rio Ngumoha.
And Newcastle, even under the tutelage of a coach new to the Premier League, simply do not seem to know how to get over the line against Liverpool.
They are now winless in 20 straight top-flight matches against the Reds, who have equalled the longest unbeaten run by an away team at Newcastle in the Premier League (10 games, level with Manchester City between 2007 and 2017).
Liverpool also remain unbeaten on MD1 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 Liverpool's last seven bosses to win their first Premier League game in charge of the club (D4 L2).
And there were certainly some worrying signs for Iraola. Both of Newcastle's goals came via fast breaks, and Liverpool have conceded nine goals from such situations since the start of last season, more than any other Premier League team.
Newcastle, though, have dropped 29 points from winning positions in the Premier League since the start of last season; Wolfsburg (33) are the only team in Europe’s big five leagues to surrender more in that time, and Jaissle will know that is a mental hurdle his team must overcome.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
0' Newcastle and Liverpool pay tribute to Kevin Keegan
0' Tuchel is here at the stadium
0' Match Event for Newcastle vs Liverpool
5' GOAL! Osula plays a through ball and finds Elanga, who fires the ball in! Newcastle 1-0 Liverpool
8' Barnes commits a foul as he is too aggressive in the battle for the ball
17' Wirtz picks up the rebound after chaos and directs a sweet strike, but the keeper denies him
24' Osula collects a lovely pass and strikes towards the net, but it is blocked by Alisson
46' Isak plays a pass for Ngumoha, but the ball is off of the pitch and it's a throw-in for Newcastle
47' Isak and Jacquet leap to produce header, but the defender intercepts and averts the danger
53' Gakpo receives a precise pass and has an effort on goal, but his strike flies high over the bar
54' GOAL! Gravenberch slips the ball to Gakpo, who drills it into the net! Newcastle 1-1 Liverpool
57' GOAL! Wissa sends a pass to Willock, who unleashes a low drive and scores! Newcastle 2-1 Liverpool
63' Mac Allister and Munoz replace Wirtz and Ngumoha
66' Gakpo dribbles into the box, but the ball is intercepted and cleared
68' Isak takes a short pass in his stride inside the box, but hits a shot at goal that goes high
69' Araujo joins the action as a substitute, replacing Jacquet
77' Liverpool players appeal for a handball inside the box, the ref signal no penalty
78' Gravenberch is replaced by Koumas
84' Isak attempts to convert a cross into goal, but his promising header is denied by Hornicek
85' Wissa produces a shot towards the goal after his wonderful solo run, but Alisson denies him
Line-ups
Newcastle XI: Yoane Wissa, Barnes, Sven Botman, Amar Dedic, Malick Thiaw, Anthony Elanga, Lukas Hornicek, Lewis Hall, William Osula, Lewis Miley, Sean Steur
Subs: Schar, J.Murphy, Willock, Jacob Ramsey, Nick Woltemade, Ewen Jaouen, Bazoumana Touré, Leo Shahar, Aladji Bamba
Liverpool XI: Alisson, Van Dijk, Isak, Gakpo, Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Wirtz, Jérémy Jacquet, Rio Ngumoha
Subs: Endo, Tsimikas, Araujo, Mac Allister, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Víctor Muñoz, James McConnell, Trey Nyoni, Lewis Koumas