Dominik Szoboszlai’s 99th-minute penalty salvaged a 2-2 draw for Liverpool against Newcastle United, ending a dramatic opening-day encounter at St James’ Park. The Newcastle supporters watched in tension as the referee pointed to the spot in the final seconds of stoppage time.
The home crowd had spent the full 95 minutes booing and jeering Alexander Isak relentlessly. Their worst nightmare almost materialised: the Swedish striker stepping up to snatch victory for his new club in the dying moments.
Ultimately, Szoboszlai emerged from the technical area to blast the ball past Lukas Hornicek. Mohamed Salah’s summer departure left Liverpool searching for a designated penalty taker. Both Isak and Szoboszlai possess strong claims for the role.
Iraola Refuses to Name Primary Spot-Kick Taker
Following the final whistle, Andoni Iraola side-stepped questions regarding whether Isak’s hostile reception dictated the choice of taker.
I think we have not only Dom and Alexander – we have more very good specialists,” Iraola said in his post-match press conference. “Alexis [Mac Allister] also was on the pitch and he’s a very good penalty-taker, Cody [Gakpo] – 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.”
Szoboszlai Delivers Under Immense Pressure
Szoboszlai previously converted penalties in a Liverpool shirt, establishing a track record of composure. The Away section expressed confidence in the Hungarian midfielder as he grabbed the ball. Isak, by contrast, endured a difficult evening facing high-intensity pressure on his return to Tyneside.
Some supporters wanted the £125m marquee forward to take the high-stakes moment himself. However, converting the penalty remained the primary objective, and Szoboszlai executed the job cleanly.
Tactical Clarity Awaits Anfield Return
The outcome leaves Liverpool’s official penalty hierarchy unconfirmed. Iraola values option clarity within his squad, highlighting Mac Allister and Gakpo alongside his main attacking options.
Liverpool now shift focus to their upcoming fixture against Nottingham Forest at Anfield, where the baseline penalty structure will likely face further scrutiny.
Both players boast extensive penalty-taking experience across top European leagues and international competitions.Across their entire senior careers for club and country, Dominik Szoboszlai maintains the stronger overall efficiency.
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Player Scored Missed Total Taken Conversion Rate
Dominik Szoboszlai 20 2 22 90.9%
Alexander Isak 19 6 25 76.0%
While questions over Liverpool’s primary penalty hierarchy following Mohamed Salah’s departure remain open, Szoboszlai’s clutch execution demonstrated that the Reds possess high-caliber specialists ready to step up when points are on the line.
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