Anthony Elanga Spoils Iraola's Liverpool Debut

Anthony Elanga struck early to spoil Andoni Iraola’s first competitive game in charge of Liverpool – and Gary Neville wasted no time pointing the finger.

New era, nightmare start

St James’ Park crackled with first-day energy. Two new managers, one of the league’s fiercest atmospheres, and a sense that this was more than just another opening weekend fixture.

Liverpool actually began on the front foot. Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo both found themselves with early sights of goal, half-chances that hinted at control and composure from Iraola’s side. But once Newcastle broke, the tone of the afternoon shifted in an instant.

Elanga punishes Liverpool

The breakthrough came with brutal simplicity. William Osula dropped off the front, took possession, and turned far too easily. One pass later, Anthony Elanga was away.

The Swedish winger simply burned past Milos Kerkez, leaving the Liverpool full-back trailing in his wake. Bearing down on goal, Elanga opened his body and drilled a low finish into the far corner beyond Alisson.

The home crowd erupted. The visiting bench froze.

Neville’s blast for Liverpool’s back line

On Sky Sports commentary, Gary Neville immediately homed in on the details Liverpool got wrong.

“Alisson might be a little close to that near post and it leaves a gaping hole for Elanga to find. That gap is far too big,” Neville said, questioning the goalkeeper’s positioning as the ball flew across him into the far side.

But his criticism didn’t stop there. Neville turned to the build-up, highlighting the roles of Van Dijk and new signing Jeremy Jacquet as Osula was allowed to dictate the move.

“You would expect Van Dijk and Jacquet to go with Osula but they let him drop in and turn,” he said. “They don’t push in. They are 15-20 yards deep of where they should be. You see Arsenal’s defenders do it to perfection.”

It was a pointed comparison, and a sharp reminder that Iraola’s new-look defence will be judged against the league’s best from day one.

Iraola’s big call at centre-back

Jacquet’s inclusion was one of the headline decisions before kick-off. The French defender got the nod ahead of fellow new arrival Ronald Araujo, a bold call from Iraola on his Premier League bow.

“It was a difficult call. Both of them played well in the last friendly,” Iraola explained before the game. “Jeremy is comfortable with and without the ball.

“Playing against Osula and Wissa, who are good players, will not be easy. We have Ronald ready to go if we need him.”

Within minutes, that selection was under the microscope. Osula had been allowed to drop into space, turn, and release Elanga. Neville’s analysis underlined exactly where Liverpool’s line sagged and why Newcastle’s direct approach hurt them so quickly.

Early promise, early warning

For Liverpool, the frustration will be that they had started with intent. They moved the ball with purpose, carved out early chances, and looked ready to impose Iraola’s ideas on hostile territory.

One lapse, one sprint, one clinical finish from Elanga – and the whole narrative flipped.

On opening day, in a new era, those are the moments that can define how quickly a project settles or how long the questions linger.