Dominik Szoboszlai Saves Liverpool in Dramatic 2-2 Draw Against Newcastle

Dominik Szoboszlai held his nerve deep into stoppage time to rip the points from Newcastle’s grasp and preserve Liverpool’s unbeaten run at St James’ Park in a Premier League classic that felt straight out of Kevin Keegan’s scrapbook.

The Hungary midfielder lashed home a 99th-minute penalty in front of a stunned Gallowgate End to seal a 2-2 draw, extending Liverpool’s unbeaten streak on Tyneside to 10 games, after Lewis Hall was penalised for a late tangle with substitute Victor Munoz.

Newcastle thought they had done enough. They thought Joe Willock had written the decisive line.

Keegan tributes, Keegan chaos

On a day built around emotion, both sets of players emerged for the warm-up in Keegan number seven shirts as Tyneside and Merseyside paused to salute a man who electrified both clubs. The sentimentality didn’t last long.

As soon as the whistle went, Alexander Isak became the lightning rod. The £130 million forward, back at St James’ Park and facing a hostile 52,630 crowd, was jeered with every touch. The focus, though, quickly shifted to the men in black and white.

After just five minutes, Newcastle sliced Liverpool open with a move Keegan himself would have applauded. Amar Dedic, sharp and adventurous on debut, slid a clever ball into Will Osula. One touch, one perfectly weighted pass, and Anthony Elanga was away.

The Sweden international burned past Milos Kerkez down the right, opened his body and swept a right-footed finish across Alisson Becker into the far corner. One chance, one ruthless finish. St James’ erupted.

Yoane Wissa, outstanding all afternoon, buzzed between the lines and bullied Liverpool’s back line, justifying Newcastle’s faith in him on a day when Isak laboured badly.

Liverpool stumble, then bite back

Liverpool’s response came quickly, if not cleanly. Dominik Szoboszlai began to probe, Florian Wirtz saw an 18th-minute effort deflected and Lukas Hornicek reacted sharply to turn it away. The visitors saw plenty of the ball but squandered it too often, inviting Newcastle onto them.

Lewis Miley, calm and composed in midfield, pinged a raking 22nd-minute pass out to Dedic, whose shot clipped Kerkez and looped behind. Jeremy Jacquet then did just enough to stop Osula from getting on the end of a Wissa through-ball that had carved Liverpool open again.

For all their possession, Liverpool created little of real substance. Szoboszlai smacked a 26th-minute free-kick straight into the wall after being dragged back by Wissa, and the half-time whistle arrived with Newcastle’s slender lead intact and the crowd in full voice.

The second half opened with a warning. Szoboszlai’s early corner caused panic in the Newcastle box, but when Harvey Barnes and Elanga sprinted clear on the counter, they failed to punish Liverpool. Moments later, Miley snatched at a 48th-minute effort and couldn’t trouble Alisson.

The miss stung. The punishment was swift.

Cody Gakpo curled a 53rd-minute strike just over with Hornicek rooted, a sighter that should have set alarm bells ringing. Two minutes later, he made no mistake. Given time and space 25 yards out, Gakpo drilled a skidding drive past Hornicek and into the bottom corner. Level, and Liverpool suddenly alive.

Willock’s impact, Szoboszlai’s ice

Newcastle, under new boss Matthias Jaissle, refused to wilt. The German, still only weeks into the job and working with a squad that could yet change again before the window closes, saw his side answer immediately.

Wissa again provided the spark. His quick feet in a crowded area opened a lane for substitute Joe Willock, on the pitch for mere seconds. Willock stepped inside, found his angle and whipped a precise shot across Alisson and into the far corner. 2-1, bedlam again, and Jaissle pounding the touchline in delight.

From there, Newcastle hunted a third. Jacob Ramsey, another substitute, volleyed wide from a promising position on 70 minutes, while Wissa raced clear one-on-one only for Alisson to stand tall and block.

Liverpool hung on, then crept forward. The clock ticked into nine minutes of added time. St James’ Park sensed a statement win for the new era. Instead, it got a gut punch.

As the ball dropped in the box, Hall tangled with Munoz. Referee Stuart Attwell pointed straight to the spot, to Hall’s disbelief and visible anguish. Protests swirled around him; the decision stood.

From 12 yards, Szoboszlai didn’t blink. He drove his penalty home, low and decisive, silencing the stadium and rescuing a point that Andoni Iraola, heading back across the Pennines, will cherish even as he wrestles with the questions this performance raised.

Jaissle, by contrast, walks away knowing his Newcastle side went toe-to-toe with Liverpool, lit up St James’ Park, and still left feeling short-changed. If this is the starting point of his tenure, what happens when this team fully clicks?