Liverpool's Wild Draw: Iraola's Mixed Feelings After Newcastle Clash

Andoni Iraola walked away from a wild opening-day draw knowing his team had escaped, but not entirely satisfied.

Newcastle twice went in front, first through Anthony Elanga and then Joe Willock, only for Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai to drag the visitors level each time. The late equaliser changed the mood, but not the manager’s standards.

"It's a strange feeling. Not the result we wanted but it's true, the way we scored the goal in the end, it tastes better. Still, we would have definitely preferred the win," Iraola told BBC, clinging to the character his side showed after slipping 2-1 behind.

Nightmare start, fierce response

The afternoon began in the worst possible way. Inside five minutes, Liverpool were behind, undone by the pace and intensity Newcastle unleashed at St James’ Park.

"We started the game the worst way we knew. Newcastle away, first game of the season, the atmosphere, they have very fast players and we concede the goal," Iraola admitted. They were punished early and forced to chase.

"They punished us and we had to go against the result. But we didn't give up in any moment."

That refusal to fold became the theme of the second half. Once the first goal went in, Liverpool had no choice but to raise the tempo and turn the match into a faster, more chaotic contest.

"Once you concede the first goal, you need the game to go fast. You need things to happen when you're losing," Iraola said. The shift worked. Liverpool began to pin Newcastle back, circulating the ball around the box and finally imposing themselves.

"We could control the game in the second half. We had better possession around their box. When we scored, it looked like we were the team going to turn the game but then they scored again."

Just as Liverpool seemed ready to flip the script, Newcastle struck once more, forcing Iraola’s side to dig even deeper for that second equaliser.

Bench power and a decisive late cameo

The intensity of the game left clear marks on the squad. Iraola and his staff leaned heavily on the bench to keep the press high and the legs fresh.

"Jeremy hasn't done a proper pre-season, so it was kind of expected that he didn't finish the game. All the substitutes gave us energy," the manager explained, pointing to the physical demands of his style. "We need it because it's difficult to last the full 90 minutes with the same players the way we want to play. Players coming off the bench can affect the game."

One of those changes, Victor Munoz, did exactly that. His direct running won the late penalty that salvaged a point and almost brought even more.

"Victor almost had another penalty but the referee whistled before conceding it but it was even more clear. So he has really affected the game."

A chaotic opener, a rescue job from the bench, and a manager who wants more. If this is the starting point, Liverpool’s season under Iraola promises drama, risk, and very little room to breathe.