Late Dominik Szoboszlai penalty rescues Liverpool in dramatic 2-2 draw at Newcastle

Anthony Elanga opened the scoring after just five minutes with a convincing finish following a swift counterattack that started inside the Newcastle box.

Liverpool responded with an excellent finish from Cody Gakpo on 55 minutes before substitute Joe Willock made an immediate impact as he restored Newcastle's lead just two minutes later.

But Dominik Szoboszlai made no mistake from the penalty spot in the 99th minute to rescue a point for his side.

The match started with a rousing tribute to Newcastle legend Kevin Keegan, who sadly passed away in July, and his memory was soon honoured with a superb early goal.

New Magpies boss Matthias Jaissle joined in the celebrations after Elanga swept the ball home past goalkeeper Alisson Becker. Liverpool had been on the attack, but a poor square pass from Ryan Gravenberch was picked up by William Osula, who drove forward before slipping in Elanga and leaving Reds manager Andoni Iraola scratching his head.

There was a chorus of boos every time Alexander Isak touched the ball, while the next best chance fell to Florian Wirtz as Liverpool looked to respond. Newcastle keeper Lukas Hornicek, however, made a stunning one-handed save.

The visitors were starting to see more of the ball, but Szoboszlai couldn't make the most of a free-kick in a good position on the half-hour mark, firing straight into the Newcastle wall.

Jeremie Frimpong was wasteful in possession, but a better delivery on 38 minutes led to a succession of corners that Newcastle defended with ease. Yoane Wissa was, meanwhile, lively for the team and at the centre of most of their attacking moves, and the opening period ended with Newcastle deservedly in the lead.

But it was the Reds who were quicker out of the blocks at the start of the second half, and a whipped-in corner so nearly found its way into the Newcastle goal, only for Hornicek to punch clear following a scramble in the box.

Newcastle were again very quick to counter-attack and, within three passes, were in front of the Liverpool goal, but Lewis Miley lashed his effort well over the target.

As play swung from end to end, Gakpo cut in on his right foot and looked set to curl the ball past Hornicek, but he was leaning back and his shot flew over the target. His next shot, however, was always heading into the back of the net after he was given far too much time to turn and pick out the bottom-left corner.

Newcastle withdrew Sean Steur for Jacob Ramsey and Osula for Willock immediately after the goal, and the impact was instant as Willock fired Newcastle back into the lead within seconds. A powerful run and lay-off from the ever-lively Wissa set up Willock to power the ball past a despairing Becker, following another quick counter-attack from the Tynesiders.

Liverpool looked to their bench and brought on Munoz for Rio Ngumoha and Alexis Mac Allister for Wirtz.

Virgil van Dijk was next to threaten with a stabbed effort at the back post from a 65th-minute free-kick that was calmly collected by Hornicek. Liverpool were then lucky to emerge unscathed after a Hall cross across the face of goal only needed a touch from Wissa to turn it goalwards.

Isak blasted well over the target when teed up on the edge of the 18-yard area, much to the delight of the Newcastle fans, before a raft of changes as Ronald Araujo came on for his debut with 20 minutes of the match remaining, replacing Jeremy Jacquet.

Newcastle made another double change, with Lewis Miley and Anthony Elanga replaced by Aladji Bamba and Jacob Murphy.

Time was running out for Liverpool, and Szoboszlai rattled another free-kick into the Newcastle wall, while Jaissle's side could have put the game to bed on 88 minutes after a glorious ball across the face of goal from Murphy, but none of his teammates made a move to attack the ball.

There was still time for some late, late drama, though, as Lewis Hall conceded a penalty for a clumsy challenge on Munoz, leaving Szoboszlai to step up and fire his spot-kick into the top-left corner to salvage a point for the visitors.