Dominik Szoboszlai Takes Liverpool's Penalty Over Alexander Isak

Andoni Iraola has laid out exactly why Dominik Szoboszlai – and not Alexander Isak – took Liverpool’s high‑pressure penalty at St James’ Park.

Isak’s first return to Newcastle since his £125million move to Anfield was always going to be raw. Once the darling of the Gallowgate, the Sweden striker turned into a pantomime villain in the eyes of many home fans after forcing through his British-record switch, refusing to train or play as the saga dragged on to Deadline Day.

The boos started early and never really stopped. Every touch, every run, every loose ball drew a reaction. Yet deep into stoppage time, it looked like Isak might have the perfect chance to answer all of it.

Lewis Hall clipped Victor Munoz in the area, the referee pointed to the spot and, with Mohamed Salah no longer at the club, the stadium held its breath. Who would step up? The cameras zoomed in on Isak, framed against a wall of jeers from the stands he used to electrify.

He didn’t move.

Instead, Szoboszlai strode forward, took the ball and hammered it into the roof of the net. An emphatic finish, a point rescued, and Liverpool out of jail on the opening day.

After the 1-1 draw, Iraola was asked why the Hungary international, not his £125m forward, had taken responsibility from 12 yards.

“I think we have not only Dom and Alexander – we have more very good specialists,” the Liverpool boss said. “Alexis also was on the pitch and he's a very good penalty-taker, Cody – we have a lot.

“But I think Dom showed the level. It's an almost impossible penalty to stop. I was happy obviously because at the end we recovered one point.”

The spot-kick wasn’t the only decision that stuck in Iraola’s mind. He felt Liverpool should have had another penalty earlier, again involving Munoz.

“I also think there is a clearer penalty before the Victor one to Victor again,” he said. “But I think the referee whistles just before, so they cannot give it to you, but I think it was even more clear than the second one.

“I'm happy also for Victor because he has created problems to his opposition and I think these players from the bench that can alter games are going to be important for us.”

As for Isak, Iraola was keen to underline the forward’s contribution on a highly charged afternoon and insisted the hostile reception had not unsettled him.

“I think he expected a little bit the atmosphere, I don't think it has been a big surprise for him,” Iraola said. “I think he has tried everything, has given us good positions on the ball.

“[He] probably has had a couple of situations to finish inside the box, but probably not the clearest that he wanted or we wanted, but I value that. He has continued pushing on in the game, fighting, and I think it's a good step for Alex for being the first game.”

Szoboszlai left with the spotlight, Munoz with his manager’s praise, and Isak with a bruising reminder of what he left behind. The next question is whether that penalty pecking order – and that level of resolve under fire – holds when the stakes climb even higher in the weeks to come.