Liverpool denied Newcastle United with a 99th-minute penalty at the Leazes End, as Dominik Szoboszlai's spot-kick earned the Reds a 2-2 draw at St James' Park and denied Matthias Jaissle his first Premier League win.
Alexander Isak could offer nothing more than a wink as he walked off the field, knowing his Liverpool team-mates had been fortunate to escape with a point. Isak had fluffed his lines in front of goal after being booed roundly all afternoon, but it was Newcastle's failure to clear their lines at the death that cost Jaissle the victory.
Super sub Joe Willock had looked to have snatched a dramatic win for Newcastle after coming off the bench in the second half, but just like last season United's soft centre revealed itself in injury time.
Emotional tribute and early exchanges
After an emotional minute of applause for Kevin Keegan, in which former Toon stars Tino Asprilla, Peter Beardsley, Lee Clark and Ruel Fox all stood up with tears in their eyes, the game got under way. In the opening exchanges, Lewis Hall's tackle on Isak, who had been booed from the minute he stepped off the coach, set a certain tone.
Newcastle grabbed the lead with a goal Keegan would have loved as debutant Amar Dedic hooked the ball into William Osula's path before his driving run, which included six touches, found Anthony Elanga. Moments later, the Sweden star darted to the right before keeping his composure and taking a touch before slamming the ball into the bottom corner to beat Alisson at the Leazes End.
Liverpool equalise and Willock strikes
The moment rattled Liverpool, but they had a clear-cut chance in 18 minutes when Florian Wirtz fired low at Lukas Hornicek, who saved well low down. Osula got in again on 25 minutes, but Alisson managed to snuff out the danger. A dangerous Dominik Szoboszlai free-kick, conceded by Yoane Wissa with the striker booked for his trouble, was expertly blocked by Malick Thiaw.
With half an hour played, Harvey Barnes was bundled over 25 yards from goal as Newcastle won a presentable free-kick, with Osula's free-kick hitting the wall first time before the Dane's deflected effort earned United a corner. Lewis Miley went into the book after clattering Ryan Gravenberch, but Newcastle survived the resultant free-kick.
Newcastle scrapped and battled in the remainder of the first half and could have doubled their lead had Wissa done better on 44 minutes, but his effort was wayward. In the second half, the first real chance for United fell for Miley, but he sent his effort over the bar.
Liverpool were wasteful too on 53 minutes when Cody Gakpo steered a right-footed shot over the bar. That proved to be a warning shot, with the equaliser arriving two minutes later when United switched off in midfield, allowing Gakpo to get inside the final third and crack a low shot past Hornicek to make it 1-1.
It was the cue for immediate changes, with Osula and Sean Steur taken off well before the hour mark and Jaissle replacing them with Jacob Ramsey and Joe Willock. He'd barely been on the field a minute, but Willock - the man linked with Besiktas all summer - picked his moment at the perfect time. First, Wissa used his strength to hold off two red shirts before driving through the middle and slipping in Willock, who had made a lung-busting run down the left before bundling his way into the box and striking into the bottom corner for 2-1.
Late drama and penalty decision
Isak had a massive moment to silence the home crowd with 20 minutes to go, but blazed over at the crucial moment. With 19 minutes to go, Ramsey fired wide of the target at the Gallowgate End as Newcastle again looked to extend a slender lead. Jaissle turned to his bench with 14 minutes remaining as Jacob Murphy and Aladji Bamba entered the battle for Miley and Elanga.
In the 86th minute, Wissa skipped through again on the counter but Alisson saved well to keep the score at 2-1. Moments later, Liverpool sub Victor Munoz - the Spain star who snubbed the Magpies - nipped into the box but a glorious sliding challenge from Botman denied him.
As Newcastle looked to be edging towards three points, Lewis Hall's challenge on Munoz was deemed enough for Stuart Attwell to point to the spot. Despite strong home protests over what looked like a soft decision, the penalty would stand, with Hungary star Szoboszlai stepping up to take it. Szoboszlai guided it into the top left-hand corner to beat Hornicek and haul the Reds level for what was pretty much the last kick of the game.
Isak left the pitch relieved, but when the dust settles this may not be deemed a bad result, and the performance and effort was there for all to see. Last-gasp goals in Newcastle vs Liverpool fixtures are always there to be feared, and so it proved yet again.
Attendance: 52,630. Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire).
