Relief for Iraola but Liverpool have work to do
Dominik Szoboszlai's injury-time penalty rescues a point at the start of the Andoni Iraola era - but Liverpool need to improv after below-par performance.
Liverpool secured a 2-2 draw against Newcastle at St James' Park, rescuing a point in the opening match of the season. Dominik Szoboszlai scored the decisive 99th-minute penalty, while Andoni Iraola's side never gave up in a game that felt more like relief than celebration. Iraola admitted his team did not deserve to lose, but recognized the need for improvement.
Former Scotland winger Pat Nevin commented on the lack of creativity and called for more depth in the squad. Liverpool's defensive midfielder shortage was evident, and the team conceded more goals via fast breaks than any other Premier League team this season. The performance of young players such as Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, who were signed for significant fees last summer, will be closely monitored.
Cody Gakpo's future remains uncertain, as Liverpool may bring in additional attacking players. Victor Munoz made a positive impact on his debut, while defensive players Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong struggled. Despite the mixed performance, Iraola expressed his contentment with the point and optimism for the future.
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