Szoboszlai's 96th-minute penalty snatches Liverpool a point at Newcastle in Premier League opener

Dominik Szoboszlai rescued a point for Liverpool with a 96th-minute penalty at St James’ Park on Sunday, denying Newcastle a winning start to the Premier League season in a 2-2 draw that mirrored the stoppage-time drama between the two sides last year.

Anthony Elanga gave the hosts a dream opening, finishing impressively inside four minutes after William Osula ran at the Liverpool defence and sent the winger clear — Elanga’s first Premier League goal for the club. Newcastle carried that lead into half-time, but Andoni Iraola’s side came out fighting after the break and Cody Gakpo levelled on 55 minutes, firing home from 25 yards after being given time and space to take aim.

Parity lasted just three minutes. Newcastle hit Liverpool on the counter again, with Yoane Wissa carrying the ball half the length of the pitch before finding Joe Willock, who finished neatly to restore the hosts’ advantage. With the clock deep into stoppage time, a three-point haul for Matthias Jaissle’s side — in what would have been the new head coach’s first competitive win — appeared to be secured.

Then Lewis Hall’s foul handed Liverpool a lifeline. Szoboszlai stepped up and hammered the penalty into the roof of the net to make it 2-2, denying Newcastle the victory their performance had largely merited.

For Liverpool, the point preserves an unbeaten start but will feel like a missed opportunity given the quality Florian Wirtz and Gakpo showed in flashes — Wirtz had also forced a smart save from Lukas Hornicek in the first half.

For Newcastle, the result will sting after a summer in which the club sold three key players for more than £240 million and changed manager during pre-season. Sunday’s display, however, suggested the Magpies retain the tactical cohesion and counter-attacking threat that made them dangerous in previous seasons, even without the headline names. Conceding so deep into stoppage time will nonetheless overshadow what was otherwise an encouraging afternoon at St James’ Park.