Dominik Szoboszlai Takes Late Penalty for Liverpool Instead of Alexander Isak

Andoni Iraola has lifted the lid on why Dominik Szoboszlai – and not Alexander Isak – took Liverpool’s dramatic late penalty at St James’ Park.

Isak’s return to Tyneside, his first since a £125million move to Anfield in the summer, was always going to be raw. Once adored, the Sweden striker turned from idol to outcast in the eyes of many Newcastle fans after forcing through his British-record switch, refusing to train or play in the final stretch before Deadline Day delivered his move.

The boos started early and never really stopped. Every touch, every run, every half-chance came with a wall of hostility from the stands. Then, deep into stoppage time, it looked as if the script had been written for him.

Liverpool, trailing in their Premier League opener, pushed for a lifeline. Victor Munoz drove into the box, Lewis Hall dangled a leg, and the referee pointed straight to the spot. With Mohamed Salah no longer at the club, there was a split second of uncertainty. Who owns this moment now?

Cameras locked on to Isak, standing over the ball, the noise rising. But the responsibility – and the spotlight – shifted. Szoboszlai stepped forward, took the ball, and with one ruthless swing hammered it into the roof of the net. Unsaveable. One point salvaged. One storyline flipped.

After the 1-1 draw, Iraola explained the decision.

“I think we have not only Dom and Alexander – we have more very good specialists,” the Liverpool boss said. “Alexis also was on the pitch and he's a very good penalty-taker, Cody – we have a lot.

“But I think Dom showed the level. It's an almost impossible penalty to stop. I was happy obviously because at the end we recovered one point.”

The spot-kick that did count was not the only one Iraola had in mind. He felt Liverpool should have had another earlier in the half, again involving Munoz.

“I also think there is a clearer penalty before the Victor one to Victor again,” he said. “But I think the referee whistles just before, so they cannot give it to you, but I think it was even more clear than the second one.

“I'm happy also for Victor because he has created problems to his opposition and I think these players from the bench that can alter games are going to be important for us.”

If Szoboszlai stole the final act, Isak’s performance still mattered. The reaction to him was fierce, but inside the Liverpool camp there was no sense of surprise.

“I think he expected a little bit the atmosphere, I don't think has been a big surprise for him,” Iraola said of the striker’s return. “I think he has tried everything, has given us good positions on the ball.

“[He] probably has had a couple of situations to finish inside the box, but probably not the clearest that he wanted or we wanted, but I value that. He has continued pushing on in the game, fighting, and I think it's a good step for Alex for being the first game.”

One game in, a new penalty hierarchy is already taking shape at Liverpool. Szoboszlai has thrown down an emphatic marker. Isak, under fire but still trusted, has taken his first steps back onto a hostile stage. The next time the whistle goes in the box, the choice from 12 yards might say even more about where this new-look side is heading.