Newcastle 2-2 Liverpool: Magpies Denied Dream Start by Controversial Late Penalty

Newcastle United were left absolutely gutted at St James’ Park as Liverpool rescued a 2-2 draw with a penalty deep into stoppage time.

For Newcastle supporters, this one will hurt.

The Magpies led twice and looked set to give Matthias Jaissle a memorable victory in his first competitive game in charge, only for a very soft-looking late penalty to change everything.

From a Newcastle point of view, it was incredibly difficult to take.

Newcastle Show Fight in Jaissle’s First Game

With several new faces in the team and a new head coach in the dugout, there were plenty of questions surrounding Newcastle heading into the opening game of the season.

But the performance gave supporters plenty of reasons to be optimistic.

Newcastle played with intensity, competed all over the pitch and weren’t afraid to take the game to Liverpool.

The Magpies deservedly found themselves 1-0 ahead at half-time, with St James’ Park rocking.

Liverpool Respond – But Newcastle Go Again

Liverpool inevitably came back into the contest after the break and found an equaliser.

What was particularly encouraging, though, was Newcastle’s response.

Instead of sitting back and simply trying to protect a point, the Magpies pushed again and regained the lead.

At 2-1, Newcastle could almost taste the three points.

That Late Penalty Will Be the Talking Point

Then came the moment that changed the game.

Deep into stoppage time, Liverpool were awarded a penalty and converted to make it 2-2.

There will obviously be different opinions on the decision, but from a Newcastle perspective it looked extremely soft.

To see such a tight game decided by that kind of call, particularly so deep into stoppage time, was incredibly frustrating.

Newcastle had worked themselves into a winning position twice and were seconds away from beginning the new era with three points.

Instead, Liverpool escaped St James’ Park with a draw.

Newcastle Fans Can Still Take Plenty From This

Once the frustration dies down, there are plenty of positives.

This Newcastle side has undergone significant change, Jaissle is only just getting started and several new signings are still settling into life on Tyneside.

Yet Newcastle went toe-to-toe with Liverpool and came agonisingly close to beating them.

If this is an indication of the intensity and attitude Jaissle wants from his Newcastle side, there could be plenty to look forward to this season.

Full-time: Newcastle United 2-2 Liverpool.

One point on the table.

But for Newcastle fans, after leading twice and conceding from such a debatable penalty so late in the game, this definitely feels like two points stolen away.