Premier League: Szoboszlai Scores 99th-Minute Equalizer as Liverpool Draw Newcastle 2-2 After Twice Falling Behind

At 23:30 Beijing time on August 24, the first round of the 2026-27 Premier League season continued, with Liverpool drawing 2-2 away against Newcastle at St James' Park. Elanga and Willock twice gave Newcastle the lead, while Gakpo and Szoboszlai twice equalized for Liverpool. Szoboszlai's goal came in the ninth minute of stoppage time, when he converted a penalty won by Munoz to score the equalizer.

In this match, Liverpool captain Van Dijk led the starting lineup, new signing Yacquet made his competitive debut for the Reds, and Isak led the line against his former club. For Newcastle, new signings Hornicek, Dedic and Stoiljkovic made their competitive debuts, Osula started as the lone striker, while Duur and Bamba were on the bench. Before the match, players from both teams gathered in the center circle to observe a moment of silence for late England legend Keegan.

Just five minutes after kickoff, Newcastle made a dream start. Liverpool's attack was turned into a counterattack, Osula played a through ball, and Elanga fired a low shot from the right side of the penalty area into the far corner, putting Liverpool 0-1 behind.

In the ninth minute, Szoboszlai delivered a free kick and Van Dijk's header was blocked out for a corner by a defender. In the 18th minute, Wirtz's low shot from the left side of the penalty area was tipped out by Hornicek. Later, Szoboszlai's corner found Kerkez, whose long-range effort from outside the box went over the crossbar. In the 25th minute, Visa was booked for pulling Szoboszlai. In the 29th minute, Kerkez's shot from the left side of the penalty arc was blocked by Hornicek.

In the 30th minute, Kerkez brought down Elanga and received a yellow card. Frimpong was then also booked for a foul on Barnes. In the 34th minute, Miley received a yellow card for bringing down Gravenberch. In the 41st minute, Gravenberch's shot from the top of the penalty arc was blocked by a defender. In the 44th minute, Visa's long-range shot missed the target.

At halftime, Liverpool trailed Newcastle 0-1 away from home.

The second half began with the teams switching ends. In the 47th minute, Isak's header attempt from a corner was saved by Hornicek. Shortly after, Wirtz's shot inside the penalty area was blocked by a defender.

In the 55th minute, Liverpool equalized. Gravenberch played a through pass and Gakpo smashed a shot into the far corner from the right side of the top of the penalty area, making it 1-1. It was Liverpool's first goal of the new season.

In the 57th minute, Newcastle regained the lead. Visa carried the ball from the center circle and passed to Willock near the edge of the penalty area, where Willock fired a low shot into the far corner from a left-side position to make it 2-1.

In the 63rd minute, Liverpool replaced Ngumoha with Munoz, who completed his competitive debut for Liverpool; at the same time, Mac Allister replaced Wirtz. In the 66th minute, Szoboszlai passed to Van Dijk, whose shot from the left side of the penalty area was saved by Hornicek. In the 68th minute, Miley passed to Elanga, whose long-range shot was blocked by Alisson. In the 70th minute, Liverpool replaced Yacquet with Araujo, who completed his competitive debut for the Reds.

In the 76th minute, a Newcastle new signing replaced Miley and completed his debut for the new team. In the 78th minute, Munoz's shot from the right side of the penalty area was blocked by a defender. In the 85th minute, Frimpong crossed from the right side of the penalty area and Isak's header was collected by Hornicek. In the 86th minute, Willock played a through ball and Visa's one-on-one shot from the right side of the six-yard box was brilliantly saved by Alisson. In the first minute of stoppage time, Koumas' shot from the left side of the penalty area was blocked.

In the sixth minute of stoppage time, Munoz was brought down by Hall while breaking into the penalty area, and referee Atwell awarded Liverpool a penalty. In the ninth minute of stoppage time, Szoboszlai blasted the penalty into the net as Liverpool made it 2-2.

In the end, Liverpool drew 2-2 away against Newcastle.

Starting lineups for both teams:

Newcastle (4-2-3-1): 21-Hornicek/37-Dedic, 4-Botman, 12-Chaof, 3-Hall/14-Stoiljkovic (56' 41-Ramsey), 67-Miley (76' 8-Bamba)/19-Elanga (76' 23-Murphy), 9-Visa (90' 5-Schär), 11-Barnes/10-Osula (56' 28-Willock)

Liverpool (4-2-3-1): 1-Alisson/30-Frimpong, 4-Van Dijk, 5-Yacquet (70' 33-Araujo), 6-Kerkez/38-Gravenberch (78' 67-Koumas), 8-Szoboszlai/18-Gakpo, 7-Wirtz (63' 10-Mac Allister), 73-Ngumoha (63' 23-Munoz)/9-Isak

(Original article by Sohu Sports, Gerard)