Isak Booed on Tyneside as Iraola Era Begins with Draw

Alexander Isak walked back into St James’ Park and straight into a wall of noise. Boos rained down, chants branded him “greedy”, and every touch for Liverpool’s record signing from Newcastle was greeted with venom.

He never really answered them.

On his first return to Tyneside since last year’s £125 million move to Anfield, the Sweden striker endured a grim afternoon in a 2-2 draw that felt, for him at least, like 90 minutes under cross-examination. One thunderous challenge from Lewis Hall that left Isak on the turf drew a roar almost as loud as either Newcastle goal. The home crowd had their villain, and they relished it.

Isak’s debut season at Liverpool was already under scrutiny after injuries and poor form turned that huge fee into a running joke. On this evidence, the questions will not go away. His finishing was off, his movement subdued, his presence largely anonymous in the penalty area.

Andoni Iraola, though, refused to hang him out to dry.

“I think he expected a bit the atmosphere, it was not a big surprise for him,” the new Liverpool manager said afterwards. “He has tried everything, given us good positions on the ball, has had a couple of situations to finish in the box but not the clearest but I value that he has continued pushing, fighting.”

Hostile or not, the crowd did not decide this game. Liverpool’s defending almost did.

Defensive scars re-open for Liverpool

The same soft underbelly that haunted Liverpool last season was on display again. Iraola’s first competitive game in charge was seconds from ending in defeat before Dominik Szoboszlai dragged his side out of the fire from the penalty spot deep into stoppage time.

Newcastle struck first, Anthony Elanga punishing slack defending to put the hosts ahead early on. Liverpool, ragged at the back and short of control, staggered through the rest of the half and only really stirred after the break.

Cody Gakpo finally levelled soon after the interval, a rare moment of clarity in a messy contest. For a brief spell, Liverpool looked like they might seize control.

Newcastle had other ideas.

Joe Willock came off the bench and almost immediately restored the lead, capping a spell in which Matthias Jaissle’s side outplayed Liverpool in both intensity and structure. St James’ Park crackled again. The boos for Isak grew louder. The Iraola era looked set to start with a defeat that would have felt entirely self-inflicted.

Then came the twist.

Deep into stoppage time, Hall’s earlier hero status evaporated. His clumsy challenge on Victor Munoz in the box gave the referee a decision to make. The penalty was awarded. Szoboszlai stepped up and hammered it into the roof of the net. From despair to escape, in an instant.

Iraola, hired from Bournemouth to replace the sacked Arne Slot, could finally exhale.

“We scored at the end, so probably you have a better taste. But before the game we wouldn't have signed for this result,” he admitted, knowing full well how close his new side had come to a damaging opening-day loss.

Jaissle fumes at “soft” decision, proud of his young side

On the other bench, Jaissle had every right to feel conflicted. Appointed after Eddie Howe’s surprise resignation earlier this month, the German watched his new team impose themselves for long stretches despite missing key figures Dan Burn and Joelinton.

“It was indeed a game of mixed feelings, especially in the end when you get a decision, two points away, it is really hard to digest,” he said.

“For me it is a really soft penalty as you call it here, if you give these penalties then you need to give a lot in the season.

“But there is also a lot of confidence and we are really proud of what we saw, the young lads were doing an amazing job with all the challenges of a transition period.”

Jaissle’s frustration at the late call was obvious, but so was his belief in what he has inherited. Newcastle pressed with aggression, broke with purpose and, crucially, did it without some of their most experienced players.

“This was special, already delivering on a high level and it makes us proud. We've a really good base to build on,” he said, sounding more like a coach glimpsing a project than one fixated on two dropped points.

For Liverpool, the questions feel sharper. The defence still leaks, the new manager is still searching for control, and the club’s most expensive striker is still fighting his own story.

The boos will fade. The scrutiny on Isak, and on Iraola’s ability to knit this together, will not.