Newcastle were denied by a Liverpool penalty in the 99th minute at St James’ Park, denying Matthias Jaissle a winning start and leaving Alexander Isak with little to offer but a wink as he walked off the pitch. The 2-2 draw felt like two points dropped, not one gained, but it also showed enough to suggest Jaissle’s Newcastle are going to be hard to beat.
Jaissle’s debut undone by a soft stoppage-time spot-kick
Jaissle was appointed Newcastle head coach on 5 August 2026, according to the Premier League, and this was his first crack at Premier League football. He came in having managed in the Saudi Pro League with BBC Sport reporting he took charge at St James’ Park after his stint with Al-Ahli. Getting a result against Liverpool in his first home game was always going to be a test. For 98 minutes, it looked like he’d passed it.
Then Lewis Hall’s challenge on substitute Victor Munoz was adjudged a penalty by referee Stuart Attwell. The home supporters made their feelings clear. Dominik Szoboszlai stepped up and guided it into the top-left corner. Game over. A 2-1 win became a 2-2 draw in the cruellest fashion.
Isak had been booed from the moment he stepped off the coach, roundly jeered all afternoon by the Toon faithful. He fluffed his best chance, blazing over with 20 minutes remaining when the goal was gaping. When the final whistle went, he walked off and gave a wink. Make of that what you will.
Elanga and Willock gave Newcastle real belief
Before the heartbreak, this was a match full of character and quality from Newcastle United. The afternoon began with an emotional minute of applause for Kevin Keegan, with former Toon stars Tino Asprilla, Peter Beardsley, Lee Clark and Ruel Fox all visibly moved in the stands.
When the football started, debutant Amar Dedic set the tone quickly. He hooked the ball into William Osula’s path, and Osula’s driving run, covering six touches, found Anthony Elanga in space. The Sweden international took a touch to steady himself, then slammed the ball into the bottom corner past Alisson at the Leazes End. 1-0 Newcastle.
Liverpool rattled back and had chances. Florian Wirtz fired low at Lukas Hornicek on 18 minutes and was kept out. Osula went close again at the other end on 25. Lewis Miley went into the book for clattering Ryan Gravenberch, and Yoane Wissa was also booked for a foul that led to a Szoboszlai free-kick, expertly blocked by Malick Thiaw. Newcastle scrapped hard, with Wissa going close on 44 minutes but firing wide.
The equaliser came just after the hour. Newcastle switched off in midfield, allowed Cody Gakpo to drive into the final third, and he cracked a low shot past Hornicek. Gakpo had gone over the bar minutes earlier with a warning shot; this time it counted. 1-1.
Jaissle moved quickly, taking off Osula and Sean Steur and bringing on Jacob Ramsey and Joe Willock. Willock had barely touched the pitch when Wissa held off two defenders, drove through the middle and slipped him in. Willock made a lung-busting run down the left, bundled into the box and struck into the bottom corner. 2-1 Newcastle, and the place erupted.
Liverpool pushed hard in the final quarter. Sander Botman produced a glorious sliding challenge to deny Munoz after he’d nipped into the box. Alisson made a sharp save to keep out Wissa on 86 minutes and keep the Reds at bay. Then came the penalty decision that ended it all.
What the draw means for Jaissle’s start
An attendance of 52,630 saw it all unfold, and the mood at full time was understandably flat. Two late goals conceded in recent Liverpool fixtures at St James’ has become something of a recurring theme, and Saturday’s stoppage-time spot-kick will sting for a while.
But Jaissle will have seen enough to work with. Dedic impressed on debut, Elanga produced a composed finish, and Willock showed exactly why links to Besiktas this summer should have been ignored. The next chance to put things right comes soon enough.