Доминик Собослайн торгуулийн цохилтын ачаар Ливерпүүл талбайдаа зочилсон тоглолтоос нэг оноо салгаж чадлаа.
Премьер лигийн хүрээнд болсон энэ тоглолтод Ньюкаслын дасгалжуулагч Маттиас Яйслэ анхны тоглолтоо хийсэн бөгөөд түүний баг тоглолтын эхэнд Энтони Элангагийн гоолоор тэргүүлж эхэлсэн. Ливерпүүлийн Коди Гакпо тооны харьцааг тэнцүүлсэн ч сэлгээгээр орж ирсэн Жо Уиллок Ньюкаслыг дахин тэргүүлэлд хүргэсэн юм. Гэвч тоглолтын төгсгөлд Люис Холлын гаргасан алдааны улмаас Доминик Собослай торгуулийн цохилтыг амжилттай гүйцэтгэж, тоглолт 2-2-ын харьцаатай тэнцээгээр өндөрлөв.
Өнгөрсөн зун Ливерпүүлд нэгдсэн Александр Исак хуучин талбайдаа эргэн ирэхэд Ньюкаслын хөгжөөн дэмжигчид түүнийг ширүүн угтаж, бөмбөг хүрэх бүрд нь эсэргүүцлээ илэрхийлж байлаа. Тэрээр Малик Тиав болон Свен Ботман нарын хамгаалалтын эсрэг тоглолтод нөлөө үзүүлж чадалгүй, оновчгүй цохилтууд хийн тоглолтыг өндөрлүүлсэн байна.
Ливерпүүлийн хувьд талбайн төв хэсгийн асуудал улирлын өмнөх бэлтгэлээс хойш үргэлжилсээр байгааг энэ тоглолт дахин харууллаа. Андони Ираолагийн баг Ньюкаслын хурдтай сөрөг довтолгоонуудыг тогтоон барихад хүндрэлтэй байсан нь хамгаалалт болон хагас хамгаалалтын хоорондох зайг сөрөг талууд хялбар ашиглах боломжийг олгожээ.
Тоглолтын өмнө хоёр багийн домогт тоглогч Кевин Киганы дурсгалыг хүндэтгэх ёслол болж, хөгжөөн дэмжигчид тусгай баннер, үзүүлбэрээр түүнийг дурссан байна. Ньюкасл ирэх наймдугаар сарын 26-нд Вест Бромвич Альбионыг хүлээн авч Карабао цомын тоглолтоо хийх бол Ливерпүүл наймдугаар сарын 29-нд Ноттингем Форесттай Премьер лигийн хүрээнд учраа таарна.
Дэлгэрэнгүйг эх сурвалжаас харах
↓Эх сурвалжийг нээх ↓
A late penalty from Dominik Szoboszlai salvaged a point for Liverpool away to Newcastle United as Alexander Isak failed to shine on his return to St James’ Park.
Newcastle looked to be getting all three points in Matthias Jaissle’s first Premier League game in charge until a late foul by Lewis Hall allowed Szoboszlai to hammer home.
Andoni Iraola’s side struggled to cope with the directness of Newcastle as the home side shocked Liverpool with a breakaway opener early on from Anthony Elanga. Cody Gakpo pulled a goal in the second half, but soon after Joe Willock, who had only just come on, put Newcastle back in front. Both goals highlighted Liverpool’s issues in midfield, which have been a concern throughout pre-season since Iraola took over from Arne Slot.
Isak, who moved between the clubs last summer in controversial circumstances, was loudly booed and whistled when his name was read out, and received a fiery welcome when getting off the team bus. He struggled to impact the game.
Jaissle was in the dugout for a first competitive Newcastle game and the way his team counter-attacked against Liverpool will give them encouragement after so much change over the summer. For Iraola, there remain issues to iron out.
There were also tributes before the match for Kevin Keegan, a hero for both sides, who passed away last month with fans from both sides across the ground holding banners and a tifo across both home and away sections.
Chris Waugh and Andy Jones break down the action.
How did Isak cope on Newcastle return?
Isak was never going to receive a warm welcome on his first return to St James’ Park since his move to Liverpool last summer.
Newcastle supporters were keen to let him know their feelings long before the whistle blew to begin the match, as plenty of boos were sent in his direction as he warmed up. They continued as the match began, with every touch booed and the “one greedy b******” chant sung repeatedly. A roar greeted every occasion he was dispossessed.
There was little Isak could do to quieten them as he was well marshalled by centre-back pairing Malick Thiaw and Sven Botman. At times in the first half it felt like watching the Isak of last season as Liverpool were unable to get him into the game or create openings for him.
Alexander Isak was not welcomed back to Newcastle by the home fans (George Wood/Getty Images)
He had a header blocked early in the second half, but he was left feeding off scraps. When a cross did come his way, he appeared to swing at thin air.
His day was summed up when he blazed an effort over the bar from just inside the area after 69 minutes. That brought one of the biggest cheers of the day from the home crowd.
Andy Jones
Is Newcastle’s direct style the way to go?
If only Elanga had managed to finish off an almost identical chance at Villa Park on his Newcastle debut a year ago, and then the winger’s first season on Tyneside may have taken on a very different complexion.
Newcastle’s hierarchy felt that Jaissle’s arrival — and the head coach’s desire to send fast wingers in behind opposition defences — could bring out the best in Elanga. The early signs are certainly positive.
In the fifth minute, Amar Dedic, on debut, won the ball inside his own area, allowing Will Osula to pick up possession and drive forwards through the middle of the pitch. The striker saw Elanga advancing at rapid pace down the right and threaded a delicious through-ball, allowing the Swede to sprint away from Milos Kerkez and into the area, where he finished across Alisson into the far corner. At Villa Park last year, Elanga fluffed the final action, but not on this occasion at St James’ Park.
Elanga slots home Newcastle’s breakaway goal (George Wood/Getty Images)
That was just the start Newcastle required and the early concession rattled Liverpool. At every opportunity, Newcastle defenders and midfielders tried to send their forward players in behind Liverpool’s high line. Osula was particularly dangerous, seeing a one-on-one effort blocked by Alisson, until the Dane became hampered by a leg problem, affecting his mobility.
Yoane Wissa appeared liberated in a No 10 role, too, pulling the strings, driving forwards with possession and threading balls forwards.
It was Wissa who created Newcastle’s second goal in brilliant fashion. Having just switched to a striker role after Osula departed with a knock, he advanced through the middle of the pitch beyond Liverpool players, before passing it off to Willock, who had been on the field for less than a minute. The midfielder then finished expertly into the far corner.
Newcastle will not be able to play this way in every match, especially not on Tyneside where many opposition sides will come and set up deeper, but this was an encouraging introduction for the offensive part of ‘Jaissle-ball’.
Chris Waugh
Why has midfield proved such an issue under Iraola?
Liverpool’s midfield has been a constant point of discussion throughout pre-season, and that showed no signs of stopping as the new campaign began.
Concerns have been raised about the space that pre-season opponents have been able to expose between Iraola’s midfield pivot and defence. Newcastle wasted no time in doing the same as they exploited that exact area to open the scoring after four minutes.
Iraola plays with two midfielders and he wants them to be aggressive and forward-thinking. The risk is that if they are both in high positions and Liverpool turn the ball over, the team is in trouble.
(Molly Darlington/Getty Images)
It is what led to Elanga’s goal. Ryan Gravenberch, one of the midfield two, saw his pass intercepted on the edge of the area and as the ball turned over he was stood next to his partner Dominik Szoboszlai, who was also in the Newcastle box. They were Liverpool’s two furthest forward players at that moment.
Even when they did have the players in the correct space, they will unable to stop counterattacks as Wissa was able to run away from Szoboszlai and Florian Wirtz in the build-up to the second goal.
A starting calibre defensive-minded midfield profile is something that Iraola does not have in his squad currently. They are unlikely to add one before the end of the window with priorities focused elsewhere, but it is an area Liverpool must improve in, otherwise teams will continue to target it.
Andy Jones
How was Keegan celebrated?
Kevin Keegan, a legend of both clubs, died last month and this game was always earmarked for special tributes.
Wor Flags, the Newcastle fan group, planned the stadium-wide pre-match displays, which were erected as “Heroes” by David Bowie played over the speakers and “There’s only one Kevin Keegan” chants filled the ground.
A tifo to honour Kevin Keegan (Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images
Both teams had warmed up in special training tops with “Keegan 7” on the back, while the entire Sir John Hall Stand also depicted the same message. In the East Stand, a pulley system was used to show images of Keegan and the moniker, “King Kev.” In the Gallowgate End, a banner with the following Keegan quote was displayed: “I want people to dream about football club. We should all be dreamers at heart. Some people are the opposite and say, ‘We can’t do that’, but when I ask them why, they can’t give a reason. Well, I say, ‘Why not?”
A minute’s applause before kick-off then capped off what was a poignant and emotional day for both clubs.
Chris Waugh
What next for Newcastle?
Wednesday, August 26: West Bromwich Albion (home), Carabao Cup, 7.45pm UK, 2.45pm ET
What next for Liverpool?
Saturday, August 29: Nottingham Forest (home), Premier League, 12.30pm UK, 7.30am ET
