Dominik Szoboszlai's Last-Minute Penalty Denies Newcastle

Dominik Szoboszlai buried a penalty deep into stoppage time to rip the points from Newcastle’s hands and cap a Premier League epic that Kevin Keegan would have recognised instantly.

The Hungary midfielder held his nerve in the ninth minute of added time, drilling home from 12 yards after Lewis Hall was ruled to have tripped substitute Victor Munoz. The kick made it 2-2, stretched Liverpool’s unbeaten run at St James’ Park to 10 league games, and left a furious home crowd stunned.

For Newcastle, it felt brutal. Joe Willock, thrown on just before the hour, had looked like the match-winner within seconds of stepping onto the pitch. His 57th-minute strike arrived almost immediately after Cody Gakpo’s leveller, restoring a lead that Anthony Elanga had given the hosts in the first half.

All this on a day when Tyneside and Merseyside paused to salute Keegan, the man who lit up both clubs. The nostalgia was thick in the air before kick-off. Both teams warmed up in Keegan number seven shirts, an emotional tribute that briefly united the stands. Once the whistle went, the mood turned sharply.

Alexander Isak, back at St James’ Park as a £130 million Liverpool forward and very much the villain in black-and-white eyes, was targeted from the first touch. Every miscontrol, every half-chance, every moment of hesitation drew howls from the 52,630 inside. His afternoon never improved.

Newcastle, though, had a new hero. Yoane Wissa produced his most complete display yet in a Magpies shirt, tormenting Liverpool’s back line and justifying why he was brought in as part of the reshaping that pushed Isak towards the exit.

Matthias Jaissle, barely weeks into the job and still working with a squad that could change again before the window shuts, watched his side play with aggression and clarity for long spells. Across the technical area, Andoni Iraola left relieved to have salvaged a point, but with a list of problems still staring him in the face.

Newcastle struck first, and early. After the pre-match ceremony, the game ignited on five minutes. Amar Dedic, impressive on debut, slid a clever ball into Will Osula, who waited, picked his moment and released Elanga. The Sweden international burned away from Milos Kerkez, opened up his body and passed a low right-foot finish across Alisson Becker into the far corner. St James’ Park exploded.

Liverpool tried to hit back immediately. Lukas Hornicek, preferred in the Newcastle goal, had to be sharp to turn away Florian Wirtz’s deflected effort in the 18th minute. Yet as the half wore on, it was Newcastle who looked more composed, Liverpool repeatedly coughing up possession and inviting trouble they did not need.

Lewis Miley, calm and ambitious in midfield, sprayed a superb 22nd-minute pass wide to Dedic, whose shot flicked off Kerkez and went behind. Jeremy Jacquet then did just enough to stop Osula from collecting a neat through-ball from Wissa as Newcastle threatened to slice Liverpool open again.

Liverpool hogged the ball but did little with it. Szoboszlai, tugged back by Wissa, hammered a 26th-minute free-kick straight into the wall. That summed up the visitors’ attacking play before the break: plenty of territory, little incision. Newcastle jogged down the tunnel still 1-0 up, deservedly so.

The second half opened with a warning. Szoboszlai’s early corner caused panic in the Newcastle box, but the hosts nearly killed Liverpool on the counter. Harvey Barnes and Elanga broke at speed, only to waste the chance with a poor final ball. Moments later, Miley found space on the edge of the area in the 48th minute but could not trouble Alisson.

Liverpool finally stirred. Gakpo curled a 53rd-minute effort just over with Hornicek stranded, a sign that the pressure was starting to build. Two minutes later, he made it count. Given time and room 25 yards out, Gakpo stepped onto the ball and lashed a skidding drive beyond Hornicek, who had no chance.

St James’ Park barely had time to process the equaliser before Newcastle struck again.

The response was ruthless. Wissa, dancing in from the flank, used his quick feet to carve out space at the edge of the box and slipped the ball into Willock. The substitute shifted inside and, with Alisson exposed, drilled a precise shot across the keeper and into the far corner. One touch to settle, one to finish, and Newcastle were 2-1 up again.

Jaissle’s side sensed a third. Jacob Ramsey, another introduced from the bench, volleyed wide on 70 minutes when well placed, while Wissa raced clear one-on-one only for Alisson to stand tall and block. Liverpool were wobbling, the home fans baying for the knockout blow.

They never got it. Instead, the game drifted towards a frantic finale, Newcastle retreating a fraction too deep, Liverpool pushing on with growing desperation. The clock ticked into stoppage time, the noise rising with every clearance.

Then came the moment that changed everything.

As a cross came in, Hall tangled with Munoz inside the area. Referee Stuart Attwell took a long look and pointed straight to the spot. Hall sank to his knees in disbelief, Newcastle players surrounding the official, the stadium howling in protest.

Szoboszlai shut it all out. From 12 yards, with the last kick of the contest, he sent Hornicek the wrong way and buried the penalty. Liverpool’s bench erupted. Newcastle’s players slumped.

On a day built to celebrate Keegan’s legacy of chaos, drama and attacking football, both clubs stayed true to the script. The questions now sit with the men in charge: can Jaissle turn this raw, vibrant Newcastle into a ruthless side, and how long can Iraola rely on late rescues before the table starts to bite?