Liverpool began the Andoni Iraola era with a dramatic 2-2 draw at Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon. Anthony Elanga gave the hosts an early lead, Cody Gakpo equalised shortly after half-time, and Joe Willock put Newcastle ahead again within minutes before Dominik Szoboszlai converted a penalty in the ninth minute of injury time.
The late leveller extended Liverpool's record of not having lost on the opening day of the Premier League season since Brendan Rodgers' first game in charge in 2012.
Goalkeeper and defence
Alisson Becker was rated 6, unable to do much about either goal and with little else to do until saving from Wissa late on. Jeremie Frimpong scored 4, with defending increasingly haphazard and a succession of decent crossing openings wasted in the first half; he was booked.
Jeremy Jacquet impressed on his competitive debut with composure and distribution from the back, earning a 7 before being substituted. Virgil van Dijk was rated 5, not at his most convincing and opting for no-nonsense defending as team-mates hesitated; he was booked. Milos Kerkez also scored 4, outpaced by Elanga for the opener and struggling to contain the winger while offering insufficient quality going forward; he was booked.
Midfield and attack
Dominik Szoboszlai was rated 6, with erratic set-piece delivery and uncertainty over his positioning, but he took the ball for the equalising penalty. Ryan Gravenberch scored 5, should have shot when a poor pass sparked Newcastle's opener, and spent the rest of the game attempting to atone with inconsistent results, though he assisted the equaliser before being substituted.
Rio Ngumoha was rated 5, again playing out of position and struggling to get into the game in the first half, too often turning into trouble. Florian Wirtz scored 5, forcing a save from Hornicek with some good touches, but his end product did not match his work-rate and he faded in the second half before being substituted.
Cody Gakpo was the standout forward with a 7, intent on putting himself about and taking the game to Newcastle, resulting in a well-taken equaliser. Alexander Isak scored 5, targeted by the home fans but given scant service before the interval and ballooning his first chance of the second half.
Substitutes
Victor Munoz, on for Ngumoha in the 63rd minute, was rated 6, not looking overly convincing down the right flank on his competitive debut until winning the equalising penalty. Alexis Mac Allister, on for Wirtz in the 63rd minute, scored 5, winning a few free-kicks but little else.
Ronald Araujo, on for Jacquet in the 70th minute, was rated 6, solid at centre-back on debut and possessing a long throw. Lewis Koumas, on for Gravenberch in the 78th minute, scored 6 on his Premier League debut with a few strong runs.
