Dominik Szoboszlai Saves Liverpool in Dramatic Draw Against Newcastle

Dominik Szoboszlai held his nerve deep into stoppage time to rip up Newcastle’s script and drag Liverpool out of trouble on a day made for drama at St James’ Park.

Nine minutes into added time, with the home crowd already tasting another statement win, the Hungary international stepped up from 12 yards after Lewis Hall was penalised for a challenge on substitute Victor Munoz. One clean strike later, it finished 2-2 and Liverpool’s unbeaten run on Tyneside stretched to 10 games.

Newcastle looked shattered at the whistle. They had led twice. They had done most of the hard work. And they had watched the points disappear with almost the last kick.

Keegan’s day, Keegan’s kind of game

Tyneside and Merseyside arrived united in nostalgia, both sets of players warming up in number seven shirts to honour Kevin Keegan. The tribute was emotional; the football that followed was pure Keegan-era chaos.

From the first whistle, Alexander Isak felt the mood. The former Newcastle striker, now Liverpool’s £130 million man, was booed relentlessly by a crowd of 52,630 that once adored him. Every touch was jeered. Every miscontrol cheered.

Newcastle fed off it.

After just five minutes, Amar Dedic, impressive on debut, slid a clever ball into Will Osula. The youngster delayed, picked his moment, then threaded Anthony Elanga through on goal. Elanga burned away from Milos Kerkez and whipped a right-foot finish across Alisson Becker into the far corner. St James’ erupted. Isak could only watch.

Liverpool tried to hit back quickly. Lukas Hornicek, starting in goal for Newcastle, reacted sharply to beat away Florian Wirtz’s deflected effort on 18 minutes. But as Andoni Iraola’s side pushed, they kept losing the ball in bad areas, inviting Newcastle onto them.

Lewis Miley, calm and ambitious in midfield, pinged a raking pass out to Dedic on 22 minutes. The full-back’s shot clipped Kerkez and looped behind for a corner. Moments later, Jeremy Jacquet did just enough to stop Osula connecting with a through-ball from Yoane Wissa, who was turning in his most complete display yet in black and white.

Liverpool hogged possession but created almost nothing of substance. Szoboszlai smacked a 26th-minute free-kick straight into the wall after being hauled back by Wissa. That summed up their half. Newcastle went down the tunnel with a slender lead and a sense they had Liverpool exactly where they wanted them.

Gakpo ignites, Willock answers

Szoboszlai emerged after the break determined to change the rhythm, his early corner causing unease in the Newcastle box. But the hosts still carried the sharper threat on the counter.

Harvey Barnes and Elanga broke at pace, only to waste a promising opening with a poor final decision. Miley then found space on 48 minutes but failed to seriously test Alisson. It felt like a missed chance to twist the knife.

The warning arrived soon enough. On 53 minutes, Cody Gakpo curled a measured effort just over with Hornicek rooted. Two minutes later, the Dutchman adjusted his sights and punished Newcastle.

Given time and space 25 yards out, Gakpo drove through the ball, sending a skidding strike past Hornicek and inside the post. One all, and Liverpool suddenly had a foothold.

Newcastle’s response was instant and ruthless.

Wissa, all quick feet and sharp angles, danced into space and slipped the ball to substitute Joe Willock, who had barely been on the pitch a matter of seconds. Willock stepped inside, opened his body and drilled a precise shot across Alisson and into the far corner. St James’ exploded again. From 1-0 to 1-1 to 2-1 in a blur.

New boss Matthias Jaissle, only weeks into the job and still working with a squad that could change again before the window shuts, prowled the touchline, urging his side to kill it off. They nearly did.

Jacob Ramsey, another substitute, dragged a 70th-minute volley just wide when well placed. Wissa then raced clear one-on-one, only for Alisson to stand tall and deny him. Those were the moments that would come back to haunt them.

Late twist, long questions

As the clock ticked into stoppage time, Newcastle looked like they had weathered the storm. Liverpool pushed but without clarity, crosses cleared, shots blocked, time slipping away.

Then came the twist.

Referee Stuart Attwell pointed to the spot after Hall’s tangle with Munoz in the box, the Newcastle defender left stunned and furious by the decision. The home crowd howled. Hall held his head. But the call stood.

Szoboszlai took the ball. Ninth minute of added time. One clean run-up, one crisp strike, and Hornicek had no chance.

Liverpool escaped with a point and Iraola, heading back across the Pennines, could at least cling to the resilience of his side. The questions, though, will follow him about the sloppiness that left them chasing the game twice.

For Jaissle, there was plenty to like: Wissa’s authority, Dedic’s energy, Miley’s range of passing, the impact of Willock from the bench. The performance felt like a platform.

The sting came from the scoreboard. On a day built to celebrate Keegan, Newcastle delivered the kind of wild, open, emotional contest that defined his era. They just couldn’t quite finish it on their terms.