Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola praised the impact of players off the bench, while Newcastle boss Matthias Jaissle hailed his sides heart following a thrilling 2-2 Premier League stalemate at St James Park on Sunday. Dominik Szoboszlai netted a 99th-minute penalty to rescue a point for the Reds after Anthony Elanga and Joe Willock had scored either side of a Cody Gakpo strike. Elanga had given the Magpies the lead after just five minutes and held the lead going into the second half. Gakpo levelled soon after the restart before the hosts hit back instantly through substitute Willock. But just went it seemed as though Newcastle would take all three points, Szoboszlai swept home from 12 yards after Liverpool new boy Victor Munoz had been clipped by Lewis Hall with just seconds of the game remaining to take a share of the spoils. Both managers were taking charge of their respective teams in a competitive fixture for the very first time, and while Jaissle could be bouyed by his players showing for much of the contest, it was Iraola who left jubilant following the late salvage job. Table of ContentsIraola on much-needed energyJaissle really happy with performanceIraola on much-needed energyAfter the full-time whistle, the Spaniard singled out praise for those coming off the bench, who he said provided his team with some much-needed energy. Iraola said: I dont think we deserved to lose. Im sure we had more chances. In the first half, we didnt finish anything. We had a lot of ball on the edge. The players coming from the bench gave us energy. The way we want to play, nobody is going to last 90 minutes. Thats why we need that energy from the bench.Jaissle really happy with performanceMeanwhile, Jaissle insisted he was really happy with his teams performance, despite the sense of deflation felt by the home section of St James Park after the game. The Newcastle boss said: They [the players] put their heart on the pitch, thats not negotiable. Unfortunately we couldnt get the three points. Our heads are a bit down but we know its a huge transition phase. Its a brave project.Jaissle lamented the decision to award the spot-kick, calling the penalty really soft. The Magpies head coach also hinted at further signings this summer before the window shuts. He added: I hope we will do more business before the end of the window. We have some needs and we know that internally. Topics Liverpool F.C. Newcastle United F.C. Add us as a preferred source on Google If you enjoy reading this article, you can help support our independent football journalism by adding 101 Great Goals as a preferred source You Should Also Read Newcastle 2-2 Liverpool: Szoboszlai salvages point for visitors in thrilling contest 101 GreatGoals 23rd August, 2026 WATCH: Elanga breaks deadlock for Newcastle against Liverpool 101 GreatGoals 23rd August, 2026 LIVE Newcastle v Liverpool: Commentary, updates, goals and stats Jon Fisher 21st August, 2026 Newcastle vs Liverpool: Line-ups confirmed at St James Park Mitch Fretton 23rd August, 2026 Newcastle v Liverpool: Preview, expected line-ups, stats and where to watch Jon Fisher 21st August, 2026 Fantasy Premier League 2026/27: Why Im going without Erling Haaland: My Gameweek 1 FPL team reveal Blake Hurst 21st August, 2026
