Dominik Szoboszlai scored a penalty in the ninth minute of added time to secure a 2–2 draw at Newcastle United, giving Andoni Iraola a point from his first competitive match in charge of Liverpool.
The visitors twice had to recover at St James' Park. Cody Gakpo cancelled out Anthony Elanga's early opener, only for substitute Joe Willock to restore Newcastle's advantage almost immediately. Liverpool were still behind when Víctor Muñoz was brought down by Lewis Hall inside the penalty area in stoppage time.
Szoboszlai drove the resulting kick high into the net. It rescued an afternoon on which Liverpool had created openings but also repeatedly allowed Newcastle to attack the space behind them.
Both clubs were beginning under new head coaches, with Matthias Jaissle taking charge of Newcastle.
Liverpool gave Jérémy Jacquet his competitive debut alongside Virgil van Dijk. Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez started at full-back, with Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch in midfield. Rio Ngumoha, Florian Wirtz and Gakpo supported Alexander Isak, who was returning to his former club.
The opening goal arrived after five minutes. Liverpool lost possession high up the pitch and William Osula carried the counter-attack forward before releasing Elanga. The winger advanced and finished across Alisson, giving Newcastle the lead from their first shot.
Wirtz tested Lukas Horníček after a cross was only partly cleared, and the goalkeeper also had to deal with a delivery from Kerkez. Newcastle remained dangerous, however. Yoane Wissa put Osula through for another chance, which Alisson blocked at close range.
Liverpool began the second half more threateningly. Isak was unable to make a clean connection when a corner reached the far post, and Gakpo curled a shot just over before finding the equaliser in the 55th minute. Receiving Gravenberch's pass on the turn, he struck low from outside the area to beat Horníček.
The improvement did not bring lasting control. Newcastle introduced Willock and Jacob Ramsey, and Willock scored shortly after coming on. Wissa drove the break and supplied the pass, allowing the midfielder to bend his finish past Alisson and put Liverpool behind again.
Iraola turned to his own bench. Muñoz and Alexis Mac Allister replaced Ngumoha and Wirtz after the hour; Ronald Araújo came on for Jacquet, followed later by Lewis Koumas for Gravenberch. Muñoz and Araújo were making their first appearances for the club.
Liverpool still needed Alisson to keep the deficit to one as the match opened up. Gakpo and Isak had further opportunities at the other end, but the second equaliser eventually came from Muñoz's intervention. Hall's challenge brought him down, referee Stuart Attwell awarded the penalty, and the decision survived a video review.
After the delay, Szoboszlai converted to deny Newcastle a winning start. Iraola welcomed the energy provided by his substitutes and felt Liverpool had done enough to avoid defeat. The late goal gave him a result to take from the opening day, although his side had spent most of it trying to recover from Newcastle's two counter-attacking goals.