Isak Booed at St James' Park as Szoboszlai Saves Liverpool

Alexander Isak walked back into St James’ Park and straight into a wall of noise. None of it friendly.

Every touch from the former Newcastle striker drew howls. The boos were deafening, the chants venomous, “greedy” ringing around the ground on his first return since that acrimonious £125 million move to Liverpool last year. One thundering challenge from Lewis Hall left him on the turf and the home crowd roared as if Newcastle had scored again.

Isak misfired, Liverpool wobbled, but Andoni Iraola still escaped with a point from his first Premier League game in charge.

Iraola defends misfiring Isak

On the pitch, Isak’s afternoon never caught fire. The Sweden international, whose debut season at Anfield was wrecked by injuries and poor form, looked a long way from the ruthless finisher Newcastle fans once adored. His finishing was wasteful, his overall display subdued, and the hostility from the stands never relented.

Iraola, though, refused to pin anything on the atmosphere.

“I think he expected a bit the atmosphere, it was not a big surprise for him,” the new Liverpool manager said. “He has tried everything, given us good positions on the ball, has had a couple of situations to finish in the box but not the clearest but I value that he has continued pushing, fighting.”

The numbers on his transfer fee still loom large. On this evidence, the question of when – or if – Isak will start to justify that £125 million price tag remains unanswered.

Defensive frailties resurface

While the focus in the stands was on Isak, Liverpool’s old problems resurfaced behind him. The defensive flaws that undermined them last season were back in full view, and Iraola came within seconds of opening his reign with a defeat.

Anthony Elanga struck early to ignite St James’ Park, punishing Liverpool and setting a frantic tone. The visitors regrouped after the interval, Cody Gakpo dragging them level soon after half-time to briefly quieten the home support.

The response from Newcastle was instant. Joe Willock came off the bench and, almost immediately, restored the lead, a punchy reminder of the energy and depth Matthias Jaissle has inherited.

Liverpool looked beaten. The clock bled into stoppage-time. Then the chaos returned.

Hall, already a hero to the home crowd for that earlier tackle on Isak, lunged clumsily at Victor Munoz deep into added time. Penalty. No hesitation. Dominik Szoboszlai stepped up and hammered the ball into the roof of the net, ripping a point from a game that had seemed lost.

Iraola could finally breathe.

“We scored at the end, so probably you have a better taste. But before the game we wouldn't have signed for this result,” he admitted. Relief, not satisfaction.

Jaissle fumes at ‘soft’ penalty but sees hope

On the opposite bench, Matthias Jaissle wore the look of a man who felt two points had been taken from him.

Appointed after Eddie Howe’s surprise resignation earlier in August, the new Newcastle manager had watched his side outplay Liverpool for long spells, even without injured stalwarts Dan Burn and Joelinton. Then a stoppage-time decision cut straight through the mood.

“It was indeed a game of mixed feelings, especially in the end when you get a decision, two points away, it is really hard to digest,” Jaissle said.

“For me it is a really soft penalty as you call it here, if you give these penalties then you need to give a lot in the season.

“But there is also a lot of confidence and we are really proud of what we saw, the young lads were doing an amazing job with all the challenges of a transition period.”

Jaissle left St James’ Park frustrated, but not deflated.

“This was special, already delivering on a high level and it makes us proud. We've a really good base to build on,” he added, encouraged by how his side had handled Liverpool and the turbulence of a new era.

As for Liverpool, Iraola has his point, Szoboszlai has his moment, and Isak has discovered exactly what Tyneside thinks of his decision to leave. How long that noise follows him into this season might define Liverpool’s attack – and his own reputation – far more than one bruising afternoon back at St James’ Park.