Szoboszlai Takes Late Penalty for Liverpool Against Newcastle
Andoni Iraola has revealed why Dominik Szoboszlai, not Alexander Isak, took Liverpool’s dramatic late penalty at St James’ Park.
Isak’s first return to Tyneside since his £125million move to Anfield was always going to be charged. Once the darling of the Gallowgate, the Sweden striker walked away under a cloud, refusing to train or play as he pushed through a British-record switch to Liverpool on Deadline Day last summer.
The mood turned hostile the moment he stepped out. Every touch jeered, every run booed. And yet, deep into stoppage time, it looked like the script was about to flip.
Liverpool, trailing in their Premier League opener, chased an equaliser when Victor Munoz went down under a challenge from Lewis Hall in the box. The referee pointed to the spot. With Mohamed Salah gone, the identity of Liverpool’s new penalty taker was still a live question.
Cameras zoomed in on Isak. The noise rose. The narrative wrote itself.
Then Szoboszlai walked in, took the ball and ripped it away.
The Hungary international ignored the chaos, strode up and hammered his penalty into the roof of the net, leaving the Newcastle goalkeeper with no chance and salvaging a point for Iraola’s side.
Asked afterwards why Szoboszlai, and not Isak, took the kick, Iraola stressed Liverpool’s wealth of options from 12 yards.
“I think we have not only Dom and Alexander [Isak] – we have more very good specialists,” the Liverpool boss said. “Alexis [Mac Allister] also was on the pitch and he's a very good penalty-taker, Cody [Gakpo] – 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 late drama might not have been the only flashpoint in the box. Iraola pointed to an earlier incident involving Munoz that never reached a VAR check.
“I also think there is a clearer penalty before the Victor [Munoz] 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.”
Munoz still left his mark. Introduced from the bench, he stretched a tiring Newcastle defence and forced the crucial late decision.
“I'm happy also for Victor because he has created problems to his opposition,” Iraola added. “I think these players from the bench that can alter games are going to be important for us.”
As for Isak, the afternoon was always going to be emotional. The boos were relentless, but Iraola felt his striker handled the hostility and the occasion.
“I think he expected a little bit the atmosphere, I don't think [it] has been a big surprise for him,” he 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.”
The penalty belonged to Szoboszlai. The noise belonged to Newcastle. But for Iraola and Liverpool, the enduring takeaway was simpler: under pressure, their new hierarchy from the spot already looks brutally clear.
