Andoni Iraola has explained why Dominik Szoboszlai took Liverpool's penalty against Newcastle, instead of Alexander Isak.
The return of Isak to St James' Park for the first time since his £125million transfer last summer was another intriguing subplot to Sunday's Premier League showdown at St James' Park.
Once considered a hero to the Toon faithful, the Sweden international became a real villain for the way he forced his way out of the club as he did not train or play until finally completing a British record switch to Liverpool on Deadline Day.
Hostile reception and late penalty
As expected, Isak received a hostile reception from the Newcastle fans all afternoon, though it appeared he was about to have the chance to silence the boo-boys in second half stoppage time.
After Lewis Hall was adjudged to have brought down Victor Munoz in the area, Liverpool were awarded a penalty and with Mohamed Salah no longer at the club, it wasn't clear who had been assigned that responsibility.
While the cameras focused on Isak, it was Szoboszlai who stepped up and slammed the ball into the roof of the net to rescue a point for the Reds in their Premier League opener.
Iraola's explanation
Iraola was asked in the post-match press conference about the Hungary international taking the spot-kick and said: "I think we have not only Dom and Alexander [Isak] – we have more very good specialists. Alexis [Mac Allister] also was on the pitch and he's a very good penalty-taker, Cody [Gakpo] – 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.
"I also think there is a clearer penalty before the Victor [Munoz] one to Victor again, 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."
Isak's performance assessed
Iraola added that he felt Isak's did well on his return to Tyneside, saying that the striker was not caught out by the reception.
"I think he expected a little bit the atmosphere, I don't think [it] has been a big surprise for him," the Liverpool boss 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."
