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Keegan tribute, 2-2 draw
Dominik Szoboszlai converted a stoppage-time penalty to secure a 2-2 draw for Liverpool against Newcastle United at St James' Park on Sunday, in a match staged as a tribute to Kevin Keegan.
“Dominik Szoboszlai's dramatic stoppage-time penalty secured a 2-2 draw for Liverpool against Newcastle United”
The game began with Anthony Elanga scoring in the fifth minute for Newcastle, before Cody Gakpo levelled for Liverpool early in the second half and Joe Willock restored Newcastle’s lead after coming off the bench.
Liverpool then forced the late equaliser when Lewis Hall fouled Victor Munoz in the area with almost the final action of the game, setting up Szoboszlai’s decisive spot-kick.
Ahead of kick-off, the atmosphere at St James' Park included a minute of applause for Keegan, who died aged 75 in July, and former players filled VIP seats to pay their respects.
In the same Premier League opening weekend, Manchester City beat Bournemouth 2-1 after Josko Gvardiol’s stoppage-time winner, and Brighton beat Aston Villa 4-0.
Quotes and differing angles
After the match, Szoboszlai said Liverpool “should have won” against Newcastle despite needing a 99th-minute penalty to salvage a draw, adding that “Everybody who came off the bench also made an impact as well today.”
Andoni Iraola told Sky Sports, “I don't think we deserved to lose the game today and I value the effort from the players,” framing the point as a product of energy from substitutes.
The Independent described the late moment as a “late mistake from Lewis Hall as he clipped Victor Munoz in the area,” while ESPN reported VAR clarified the foul as “It's knee into thigh contact,” and “Confirming the on-field decision of penalty”.
While Rediff highlighted the match as a “poignant tribute to football icon Kevin Keegan,” the Guardian foregrounded the banner raised in the Gallowgate End reading “I want people to dream about their football,” and “We should all be dreamers at heart.”
What comes next for both
The result left Liverpool opening their first Premier League campaign under Iraola with a 2-2 draw, and FotMob said the Reds will need similar substitute impact as they continue the early stages of his reign.
“Liverpool face Nottingham Forest next Saturday in their second Premier League game under Iraola”
Liverpool’s next match is scheduled against Nottingham Forest next Saturday, before visiting newly promoted Ipswich Town on September 4, according to FotMob.
For Newcastle, the late collapse meant they shared the spoils from their opening match, and Anadolu Ajansı described Szoboszlai’s penalty as denying Newcastle victory in Matthias Jaissle’s first Premier League match in charge.
The Guardian also noted that Alexander Isak left minimal imprint on a match that was “supposed to be all about him,” with the returning former Newcastle striker upstaged by William Osula.
In the broader Premier League context, Flashscore said the draw “just about salvages a league-leading run of 14 seasons and counting without an opening-day defeat,” while Iraola maintained the division’s longest managerial unbeaten streak (W8, D11).