Newcastle hold their own against Liverpool despite late equaliser

Newcastle United showed resilience and character in a 2-2 draw against Liverpool, a result that slipped away in the dying seconds through a penalty converted by Dominik Szoboszlai, yet one that head coach Matthias Jaissle chose to view as an encouraging starting point for a project that began under a cloud of scepticism. The match, played at a St James' Park united in tribute to Kevin Keegan, gave the Magpies a chance to show flashes of identity despite losing key figures over the past year including Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes, as well as former manager Eddie Howe.

• Newcastle led 2-1 before conceding a stoppage-time penalty for a foul on substitute Victor Munoz.
• Jaissle, with no prior Premier League experience, described his players' performance as 'a really top starting point'.
• Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa, last summer's signings who struggled initially, both shone under the new system.
• The club paid tribute to Kevin Keegan, with family members and former players such as Alan Shearer and Rob Lee in attendance.
• Newcastle dropped more points from winning positions (27) than any other side in 2025-26, a habit Jaissle is trying to break.

A draw with echoes of Newcastle and Liverpool's dramatic history

The fixture between these two clubs has long been synonymous with late twists, tracing back to Stan Collymore's famous 1996 winner at Anfield that left Kevin Keegan slumped against the advertising boards. Nearly three decades on, with both sets of supporters brought together to honour that same legend, the script repeated itself: Newcastle led 2-1 only for Liverpool to strike again deep into stoppage time, this time from the penalty spot following a contentious decision that left Jaissle furious on the touchline.

What's at stake for Newcastle under Jaissle's new project

Matthias Jaissle's appointment arrived amid considerable doubt. Several pundits predicted a difficult start for a manager with no previous experience in English football, taking charge of a squad stripped of several influential players over the last year. Compounding the uncertainty, every summer signing at the club is aged 24 or under and none had ever played in the Premier League before, raising questions about how quickly the team could adapt.

Jaissle admitted he was aware that some believed Newcastle would struggle to 'play a good role in the Premier League', a sentiment echoed by injured captain Dan Burn, who believes the team performs at its best when it feels like 'us against the world'. That siege mentality seemed to surface against Liverpool, particularly as the atmosphere intensified following confirmation that Isak would return to the starting line-up.

"If you have this synergy between the fans and then the players delivering on the pitch, something special can be created," Jaissle said after the match.

Elanga, Wissa and the revival of last year's signings

Beyond the result, one of the most satisfying elements for Jaissle was the form shown by players who had endured a tough first season on Tyneside. Anthony Elanga opened the scoring with a precise finish into the corner, while Yoane Wissa, who also set up Joe Willock's goal, won more individual duels (11) than any other Newcastle player on the pitch - a striking statistic for a forward.

Wissa explained that his manager has asked him to take on a leadership role within the squad, winning back possession, driving the team forward and knowing when to bring calm to proceedings. Also notable was the impact of new arrival Amar Dedic, who completed a £30m move from Benfica just days before the match, his intensity embodying the identity Jaissle wants to instil at Newcastle.

The old problem: failing to hold on to winning positions

The draw with Liverpool reopened a wound that troubled Newcastle throughout last season: no other Premier League side dropped more points from winning positions (27) than Newcastle did in 2025-26. Former manager Eddie Howe had previously admitted that 'anything can happen' when asked whether that pattern might carry over into the new campaign, and the closing moments against Liverpool suggested the issue has yet to be resolved.

Still, Jaissle praised his players' response after conceding the late equaliser, as well as the backing of supporters who stayed behind to applaud the team afterwards. He stressed that his squad had acted 'as a unit' despite the frustration, calling for patience given the short pre-season and the transition period the team is navigating amid ongoing changes in personnel.