Liverpool opens their 2026/2027 campaign with a dramatic 2:2 draw at St. James’ Park, and eventually escapes with a draw after Dominik Szoboszlai converts a stoppage-time penalty in the 99th minute to give the Reds a point.
On paper, sharing a point under a new manager looks fine, but the reality of the game exposed many lapses in the squad that Andoni Iraola will need to address quickly if Liverpool wants to challenge for the top spot of the table.
Newcastle United is also under a new head coach, Sebastian Jassle, whose tactics were hard for the Reds to crack. Below, we break down the three problems that cost Liverpool a win in their opening-day game and why fixing them matters for the season ahead.
Match Summary: Newcastle United 2:2 Liverpool
Venue: St. James’ Park, Newcastle upon Tyne
Goals: Elanga 5′ min (Newcastle), Gakpo 55′ min (Liverpool), Willock 57′ min (Newcastle), Szoboszlai pen 90+9′ (Liverpool)
Shots: Newcastle 13 (4 on target), Liverpool 27 (7 on target)
Possession: Newcastle 39%, Liverpool 61%
Expected Goals (xG): Newcastle 1.57, Liverpool 2.98
The Midfield Pivot
Andoni Iraola plays a progressive type of football, and clearly, the midfield pivot of Dominik Szoboszlai and Gravenberch will slow down this system. The Newcastle game exposed the fact that Liverpool still needs a midfielder who can cover up during attacks and who can unlock attacking players with forward passes.
Szoboszlai and Gravenberch lack the ability to deliver progressive passes and crosses for attacking players; instead, they rely solely on carrying the ball to the attack, which was cause of the lack of creativity at the forward position.
This constant progressive run from the defensive midfielder left a huge gap between the Liverpool defence and midfield, giving Newcastle attackers the chance to run against the defence.
In Liverpool’s quest to play an attacking style, the role of a standing midfielder with foresight would bring a whole lot of calmness to the midfield. This important role was missing throughout the entire game as the midfielders were continuously overlapping to attack.
Right Wing Disaster
Liverpool used Rio Ngumoha, who is a left winger on the right wing, and his performance was discouraging. He struggled against Newcastle’s Lewis Hall, who capitalised on Liverpool using a left winger who is right-footed to attack against a natural left back.
Liverpool have yet to replace Mohammed Salah, who is natural on the right wing, and if Liverpool are serious about qualifying for European football at the end of the season, a right winger should be their primary target before the close of the transfer market.
Victor Munoz is coming in at the 63rd minute, helped ease the pressure on the right wing, but it still doesn’t change the fact that a natural right winger would make the entire attacking process seamless.
The Fullbacks Disorientation
In an attacking play style, the fullbacks have the ability to make or break the game as their position is one of the most important on the pitch. Jeremie Frimpong was slow in the final third of the pitch as he had difficulty making crosses for the attackers.
At the moment, fans are still in doubt whether Liverpool’s fullbacks will be able to match up with Iraola’s game style, especially from the right back wing, as Frimpong struggled throughout the first half of the game.
For Iraola to succeed at Liverpool, there needs to be an all-round improvement from the players, most especially from the midfield and full-back positions.
