Matchday: Liverpool Survive Chaotic 7-vs-3 Defensive Scene; Commentator Says Top-Four Race Remains Long

In the first round of the new Premier League season, Newcastle and Liverpool joined forces to deliver a heavyweight clash. Both teams changed managers this summer, and Iraola's Liverpool eventually equalized with a last-gasp penalty to draw 2-2 with Newcastle and leave St James' Park with a point. The 2-2 scoreline also took the total number of Premier League goals between the two sides beyond the 200-goal mark (202 goals), ranking second in history only behind Liverpool vs Tottenham (211 goals).

Unable to attack and unable to defend! Liverpool's defensive stalwart suffers nightmare start as former Manchester United player charges forward

At the start of the match, Liverpool quickly took control and dominated possession, but they also fell into the trap Newcastle had prepared for them. In the 5th minute, Gravenberch advanced before making a horizontal pass near the edge of the box that was intercepted. Newcastle immediately launched a counterattack, with Elanga sprinting forward from deep, overtaking Kerkez from several meters behind and moving ahead of him. Osula delivered a perfectly timed diagonal pass, and Elanga finished with a low shot into the far corner from the right side of the penalty area. Newcastle led Liverpool 1-0, and Elanga scored his first Premier League goal in his 33rd appearance for Newcastle.

In fact, Liverpool's first half illustrated what it means to be unable to break through in attack and unable to stay solid in defense. Early on, the Reds' possession rate approached 80%, but they managed only two shots on target from nine attempts in the half. Newcastle led 1-0 despite having the clearer chances, and their eight shots in the opening 30 minutes set a new away-match record since April last year. Leading the attack against his former club, Isak recorded the awkward statistics of zero shots, zero successful dribbles, zero chances created and zero fouls suffered in the first half. Behind him, Wirtz was also subdued, providing only one key pass in 63 minutes and struggling in the fast-paced, physical contest. This was one reason Gravenberch's turnover while carrying the ball led to a counterattack goal.

Defensively, Liverpool's left side guarded by Kerkez and Van Dijk repeatedly became Newcastle's target on counterattacks. Kerkez was completely beaten by Elanga in a foot race, while Van Dijk had to both provide cover for him and guard against Osula making runs behind him. Statistics showed Kerkez recorded three fouls and two dispossessions in the first half, both the highest figures on the pitch.

Ridiculous 7-vs-3! Liverpool watched Newcastle's counterattack unfold, with midfielder involved twice

The same pattern continued in the second half. Although in the 55th minute Gravenberch's through pass broke Newcastle's first defensive line and allowed Gakpo to score from distance to equalize, just three minutes later another misplaced pass by him near the edge of the box gave Newcastle a counterattack opportunity, and Willock scored his first league goal in two and a half years.

Compared with Elanga's first goal, when his pace overwhelmed Kerkez, Liverpool's second conceded goal was even more shocking. After Gravenberch's passing mistake, Szoboszlai and Wirtz attempted to double-team possession holder Wissa, but the latter escaped easily. Wissa carried the ball from his own half all the way to the top of the arc before passing left, allowing Willock to cut inside and score with a low shot.

Throughout Wissa's advance with the ball, Liverpool had four defenders positioned around him in different directions, yet none could influence the play. Newcastle needed only three players to dismantle Liverpool's seven-man defensive structure in this counterattack. During this 7-vs-3 situation, Liverpool's defensive line kept retreating and the midfield chased back, but pressure on the ball carrier was almost nonexistent, allowing Newcastle to score their second goal easily. It was Liverpool's first time since the opening round of last season conceding two counterattack goals in one match, with the previous occasion coming against Bournemouth managed by current boss Iraola.

99th-minute stoppage-time penalty equalizer! Commentator: Liverpool were very lucky, top-four race remains long

Fortunately, luck was on Iraola's side and prevented a defeat in his Premier League debut with the Reds. In the 90+6th minute (five minutes of added time in the second half), Liverpool played a long diagonal pass from deep. After the first contact in front of the box was not won, Munoz collected the second ball, entered the penalty area and was brought down, leading the referee to award a penalty. The Premier League officially stated: "Newcastle player Hall did not touch the ball, and his knee made clear contact with the opponent's thigh."

In the 90+9th minute, Szoboszlai converted the penalty into the top-left '10-point spot,' allowing Liverpool to equalize 2-2 at the death and escape from St James' Park with a point. It was Liverpool's 14th consecutive Premier League opening match without defeat, extending their competition record. Meanwhile, the Reds have gone unbeaten in their last 20 league meetings with Newcastle, with 14 wins and six draws. It is worth noting that in the second round of last season's Premier League, Liverpool scored a 100th-minute winner against Newcastle, further establishing their dominance over the Magpies.

Commentator Zhan Jun said of the match: "Three years ago it was Nunez, last year it was Ngumoha, and this time it was Munoz winning the penalty. They were very lucky. Spanish new manager Iraola has injected energy into the team, but attacking efficiency still needs improvement, especially the right-wing position where reinforcements are needed. There are also many defensive problems: the left side lacks speed, the right side cannot deliver crosses, and both center-backs are slow and need more time to gel. The Reds' road to the top four is a long one............."

(Original article by Sohu Sports: Wang Douhua)