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"I would like to say on the first day we are going to be perfect, everyone will be in place," Liverpool's new manager Andoni Iraola said with a strained smile, "but probably it is not going to be like this." He wasn't wrong.
Liverpool were far from flawless during a turbulent 2–2 draw at Newcastle United in Iraola's first competitive match in charge of the Reds. The Basque manager's side had to come from behind twice to salvage a point in stoppage time and were arguably fortunate not to have found themselves trailing by more than one goal at any stage of Sunday's chaotic encounter.
With transfer activity at a standstill, the collective frustrations of the fanbase were hardly eased by the display put on by the players currently at Iraola's disposal.
Iraola Loses Gamble He Wants to Take
Iraola's philosophy is one of perpetual risk-taking. There is an underlying structure beneath the disorder he seeks, but the Basque boss has made it plain that he would sooner lean into danger than play it safe. "I prefer to make mistakes," he told Jamie Carragher ahead of his Liverpool debut. The price of that mindset was laid bare in the fifth minute at St James' Park.
When Amar Dedić slid in to reclaim possession for Newcastle inside his own penalty area, Liverpool's two most defensively oriented midfielders, Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai (circled in red), were caught ahead of the ball. Florian Wirtz, the third member of the visiting midfield, was bypassed by Dedić's challenge, leaving Newcastle with a vast expanse of open space to run into.
Iraola's midfield surging forward together like an eager pack of puppies chasing a bouncing ball was a recurring theme throughout preseason. Gravenberch had been prone to drifting out of his holding position at times last season, appearing indifferent to the defensive discipline that had underpinned so much individual and collective success during Liverpool's title-winning campaign of 2024–25.
The tall Dutchman was again caught high up the pitch for Newcastle's second goal of the afternoon after surrendering possession on the edge of the opposition's box. Szoboszlai was positioned slightly deeper but was too ineffective in his attempts to dispossess Yoane Wissa or eventual goalscorer Joe Willock.
Rio Ngumoha Gives Hint for Transfer Priority
It is evident that Liverpool are in the hunt for a new winger. The primary target appears to be Paris Saint-Germain's two-time European champion Bradley Barcola for the left flank, though reports indicate that Brighton & Hove Albion's Yankuba Minteh is being closely monitored for the opposite side. Both deals would demand significant investment from Liverpool, but they would have very different implications for Rio Ngumoha.
Liverpool's teenage sensation introduced himself to the broader soccer world with a stoppage-time winner against Newcastle at St James' Park almost exactly one year ago. It was notable that Ngumoha latched onto Mohamed Salah's cutback from the left wing — his strongly preferred flank.
Of Ngumoha's first 30 senior appearances for the Reds, only one came on the right side. At just 17, there is still time for Ngumoha to expand his game. The arrival of Barcola would compel him to do so, with the Frenchman expected to compete with Cody Gakpo on that flank, pushing Ngumoha and Víctor Muñoz across to the right.
One 60-minute substitute appearance is far too little to draw firm conclusions, but the early indications suggest there will be an adjustment period for Liverpool's young talent, who was effectively neutralized by the highly coveted Lewis Hall. The Manchester United target kept Ngumoha pinned to the touchline, and on the rare occasions the winger managed to cut inside, he was forced to attempt shots with his weaker left foot.
Alexander Isak Wilts Under the Pressure
🤬 Alexander Isak arrives at St James' Park
🗣️ "Rat, rat, rat" the welcome chant… #nufc #lfc pic.twitter.com/pXDMmNanSN
Iraola dismissed the notion that Alexander Isak would be unduly burdened by the wave of hostility directed at him from a Newcastle crowd that had not forgiven the manner of his acrimonious St James' Park departure last summer. "You like to play these kind of games," Liverpool's manager insisted before the match. Based on Sunday's evidence, Isak did not appear to relish the occasion.
The moment the former Magpies striker stepped off Liverpool's team bus, he was met with a wall of audible animosity. Isak, who went on strike to engineer his Merseyside transfer in 2025, had his every touch loudly whistled by the majority of the 52,000 supporters inside the stadium. The Sweden international had so few touches that Newcastle's fans resorted to booing whenever he was simply in the vicinity of the player on the ball. There was no shortage of hostility.
It felt significant that, when handed the opportunity to secure a point for his side with a stoppage-time penalty, Isak chose not to step up and take the spot kick. Szoboszlai's composed finish relieved the pressure on his teammate, but it will be fascinating to observe whether Isak is prepared to embrace a slightly less forgiving stage.
Liverpool Still Waiting on Stars to Shine
While Isak labored up front without reward, Florian Wirtz endured an equally forgettable outing behind him. The nimble playmaker is full of darting runs, delicate passes, and clever little flicks that rarely lead anywhere productive. Iraola criticized Liverpool's tendency to "overplay" in the final third on Sunday — a habit Wirtz is not immune to.
Following a disappointing debut season that could generously be attributed to settling in, the pressure is mounting on Wirtz to show some sign that he can come close to justifying his $133 million price tag. His first opportunity to take a step toward meeting that challenge has already passed him by.
As Liverpool's two most expensive signings of all time continued to struggle, a pair of understated forwards made the most tangible contributions. Despite swirling transfer speculation linking him with a potential move to Tottenham Hotspur, Gakpo delivered one of his most energetic performances, firing in Liverpool's first equalizer while also creating a match-high three chances — all of which were wasted by his teammates.
There is little risk of the recently signed Muñoz being moved on so soon, but he came remarkably close to joining Newcastle before Liverpool intervened this summer. The World Cup winner showed Tyneside exactly what it had missed by providing the burst of pace that forced Hall into his first error of the match, winning a stoppage-time penalty to snatch a point and spare Iraola considerable embarrassment.