**Team news**
Jeremy Jacquet made his competitive debut from the start as Andoni Iraola named the same side that began the pre-season concluder with Como 1907.
Victor Munoz and Ronald Araujo made their bows with outings from the bench.
_Liverpool: Alisson, Van Dijk, Jacquet (Araujo, 70), Kerkez, Wirtz (Mac Allister, 63), Szoboszlai, Isak, Gakpo, Frimpong, Gravenberch (Koumas, 78), Ngumoha (Munoz, 63)._
_Unused subs: Mamardashvili, Endo, Tsimikas, Nyoni, McConnell._
**First half**
Liverpool's bright start to the game was extinguished when they gave up possession inside the Newcastle third.
The turnover allowed William Osula to drive up the pitch with the ball before laying it off to Elanga, who took a touch and then arrowed across Alisson Becker to make it 1-0.
The first clear-cut chance to equalise arrived in the 18th minute, with Florian Wirtz denied by a good save from Lukas Hornicek after the hosts failed to clear a cross.
Hornicek then parried Milos Kerkez's delivery from the left but no player in red was able to pick up the loose ball.
At the other end, Alisson was called into action to smother Osula's close-range finish from a Yoane Wissa through ball.