Dominik Szoboszlai Takes Late Penalty Over Alexander Isak at St James' Park

Andoni Iraola has revealed why Dominik Szoboszlai – and not Alexander Isak – took Liverpool’s late penalty at a hostile St James’ Park.

Isak’s first return to Tyneside since his £125million move to Anfield was always going to be raw. Once adored, the Sweden striker is now viewed very differently by Newcastle fans after forcing through his British-record transfer by refusing to train or play in the final stretch of his time at the club.

The boos started early and never really stopped. Every touch, every run, every half-chance was met with a wall of noise. Yet it looked as though the script was about to flip deep into stoppage time.

Lewis Hall was judged to have brought down Victor Munoz in the area and Liverpool were handed a lifeline from the spot in their Premier League opener. With Mohamed Salah gone, the pecking order from 12 yards was unclear. The cameras locked onto Isak, standing over the ball in front of the fans who once sang his name.

Then Szoboszlai stepped forward.

The Hungary international grabbed the ball, placed it down and thumped his penalty into the roof of the net. No hesitation, no debate, no chance for the goalkeeper. Liverpool were level, and Isak’s redemption moment never arrived.

Asked afterwards why Szoboszlai, rather than Isak, took responsibility, Iraola pointed to the depth of options at his disposal.

“I think we have not only Dom and Alexander – we have more very good specialists,” the Liverpool manager said. “Alexis also was on the pitch and he's a very good penalty-taker, Cody – 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 spot-kick wasn’t the only decision in the box that bothered Iraola. He felt his side should have had another penalty for an earlier incident involving Munoz.

“I also think there is a clearer penalty before the Victor 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.

“I'm happy also for Victor because he has created problems to his opposition and I think these players from the bench that can alter games are going to be important for us.”

As for Isak, Iraola was satisfied with how his new No 9 handled a brutal afternoon back at his old ground.

“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.”

No winning goal, no silencing of the boos, but a point rescued and a penalty hierarchy quietly established. Szoboszlai has fired the first shot in that battle. How long before Isak insists on taking the next one?