Liverpool

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Captain Virgil van Dijk says Liverpool will not panic after their opening-weekend draw at Newcastle but says a "reaction" is needed based on last season's failings.

The Reds needed an injury-time penalty to secure a point in Andoni Iraola's first competitive game.

Iraola's side twice trailed, with the Spaniard cutting a frustrated figure at times as he seeks to improve Liverpool's fortunes after last season's fifth-place finish under Arne Slot.

"It's absolutely normal in any type of profession, work, whatever you do, if you come in new and you have new plans and new ideas, then it takes a bit of time with new players," said Van Dijk.

"It's down to us to do it as soon as we can, as soon as possible, because we want to improve, we want to win and we want to be better. That's what we are going to try to do.

"We need to show a reaction from last year, that we are much better than last year, because this was very unacceptable.

"It's so early on in the season. I think if we start panicking regardless of what could have happened, then obviously you won't be in a good place.

"We work on the training ground a lot of hours and have a lot of discussions on the pitch about how we want to do it better, what we want to do and what the manager wants to see.

"Hopefully, next week, it will be very close to what he wants us to do. There were some good things in the game, but obviously also things that we have to improve."

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Newcastle United and Liverpool.

Here are some of your comments:

Newcastle fans

John S: Newcastle we're unrecognisable - solid, exciting, hungry, inspiring. What a change around. Well done.

Sandy: Once again, the manager tried to run the clock! The penalty incident would never have happened if he'd left the team as it was. And the added time would have run out.

John G: Good to see Jaissle has got them organised and playing with confidence. We defended well and Miley and Steur were both excellent in midfield. We scored two great goals, with Wissa and Elanga working hard and playing really well. I still feel we need more experience in midfield and a seasoned striker.

Paul: Positive and committed performance - strong at the back and threatening with our pace in attack. Elanga, Wissa, Hall and Thiaw were particularly impressive. We'll see where we are after 10 games.

Liverpool fans

Peter: Liverpool looked disjointed with no flow. The Wirtz role didn't work all last season and is clearly still not working now. Isak, once again, had no presence up front. A lot of work to do.

Mick: Lacked ideas to break down Newcastle's defence. Showed many of same issues from last season. Need a winger and a central defender.

Garrick: Statistics suggested Liverpool were the better team, but I'm not sure about that. Statistics mean nothing. It's all about putting the ball in the back of the net and, luckily for us, we got a penalty right at the death to go away with a point. Always a tough place to go, Newcastle, but the season has only just begun.

Victor: I think it's a good start under Iraola, but there's still plenty of work to be done, particularly in midfield and defence. We were far too exposed going forward, and that's why we need to find the right balance. If we can improve our defensive structure while maintaining our attacking threat, I think we'll have a very exciting team and a promising season.

Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch says "this squad can be really good," but they need time "to adapt to one another" and Andoni Iraola's playing style.

Dominik Szoboszlai scored a dramatic stoppage-time penalty to deny Newcastle victory at St James' Park on Sunday.

Hit play above to hear Gravenberch speaking to BBC Radio Merseyside, or listen on BBC Sounds here

Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

Image source, Getty Images

When Liverpool came to Newcastle last August, there was utter jubilation as Rio Ngumoha scored a remarkable 100th-minute winner.

They scored late again this time around, through Dominik Szoboszlai's 99th-minute penalty, but it felt more like a sense of relief than joy as they rescued a point.

Andoni Iraola said afterwards that his side did not deserve to lose and, to their credit, they never gave up as they earned a 2-2 draw.

A defeat would have been Liverpool's first on the opening weekend since 2012-13. A draw will do wonders for their spirit, but it will certainly not mask their concerns.

"It is probably not the result you want when you come in before the game, but we definitely deserve this point and even more," Iraola told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"The team never gave up and we recovered one point. It probably tastes better because we scored in the last minute."

Iraola will be content with the outcome, given his side trailed twice at a raucous St James' Park.

However, this remains a Liverpool side offering more questions than answers.

There will be food for thought for the new Liverpool boss, who prefers to wait until the day after a match for a debrief, but this was a relatively positive start to life under him.

"I've liked a lot of the things I've seen from the team," he added. "There are definitely things to improve, like the goals, but I've seen a lot of things I've liked.

"I've liked the energy, especially the players coming on from the bench. I think we finished the game quite strong physically."

"We will never give up, I can guarantee you that," Dominik Szoboszlai told Sky Sports. "We have to fight all the time during the 90 minutes.

"Everybody who came off the bench made an impact as well. We need the whole squad and we need to be ready."

That desire was never a cause for concern on Tyneside - but this Liverpool squad must improve, both in terms of quality and quantity.

Read the full article here

Liverpool and Brighton were expected to hold fresh talks on Sunday over Gambia winger Yankuba Minteh, 22, as the Reds consider whether to make a third bid. (Ben Jacobs, via TeamTalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Liverpool starting XI:

Alisson: Arguably could have been in a better position for Anthony Elanga's goal. Could do nothing to keep out Joe Willock's strike. 5

Jeremie Frimpong: Poor display at right-back. Did get into some good positions down the flank but lacked that final delivery and picked up a deserved booking for tripping Harvey Barnes just outside the box. 4

Jeremy Jacquet: Encouraging start to life in the Premier League. Looks assured on the ball and has great passing range but must be more aware defensively. 6

Virgil van Dijk: Perhaps could have engaged earlier with William Osula in the move for the first goal but in truth, it was a wonderful run and finish from Elanga. Will know that Liverpool should not have let Joe Willock shoot for Newcastle's second goal. 6

Milos Kerkez: Struggled to keep up with Elanga for the goal and picked up a first-half booking. Did show some threat attackingly but has to improve defensively. 4

Dominik Szoboszlai: Was caught out of position for Newcastle's counter and this was an unusually average performance from the Hungarian but he took his penalty in injury-time brilliantly. 7

Ryan Gravenberch: Did well to create space initially but it was his pass that lost the ball just before Newcastle's opener. Made his 100th Premier League appearance and got the assist for Cody Gakpo. 6

Rio Ngumoha: Tried again down the right flank but it just did not click for the teenager, who scored the winner when Liverpool came here last season. A much tougher experience this time around. Replaced just after the hour mark. 5

Florian Wirtz: Was encouraging in phases and unlucky to be denied by a good save from Lukas Hornicek in the first half. Taken off just after the hour mark and will know that he must do more. 6

Cody Gakpo: Threatened and came close to scoring before unleashing a brilliant hit for Liverpool's first equaliser. Plenty of talk surrounding his future and this was a timely reminder of his quality. 8

Alexander Isak: Unsurprisingly booed whenever he touched the ball on his first return to St James' Park since his £125m move last summer. Looked pumped up but did nothing of note and wasted a brilliant chance at 2-1. Like Wirtz, must do more. 5

Liverpool substitutes:

Victor Munoz (on 63, Ngumoha): The winger who Liverpool beat Newcastle to signing looked sharp when he came on and won the crucial penalty. 7

Alexis Mac Allister (on 63, Wirtz): Came on to bring some stability playing in front of the backline. 5

Ronald Araujo (on 70, Jacquet): Did what was asked of him when he came on to partner Van Dijk. 6

Lewis Koumas (on 78, Gravenberch): 5

Subs not used: Mamardashvili, Endo, Tsimikas, Nyoni, McConnell

Read the full article and see how you rated the players

Andoni Iraola spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Liverpool's draw against Newcastle: "It's a strange feeling. Not the result we wanted but it's true, the way we scored the goal in the end, it tastes better. Still, we would have definitely preferred the win.

"We started the game the worst way we knew. Newcastle away, first game of the season, the atmosphere, they have very fast players and we concede the goal. They punished us and we had to go against the result. But we didn't give up in any moment. The energy of the players, especially the substitutes, it was a good recovery.

"Once you concede the first goal, you need the game to go fast. You need things to happen when you're losing. We could control the game in the second half. We had better possession around their box. When we scored, it looked like we were the team going to turn the game but then they scored again."

On Jeremy Jacquet and Victor Munoz: "Jeremy hasn't done a proper pre-season, so it was kind of expected that he didn't finish the game. All the substitutes gave us energy. We need it because it's difficult to last the full 90 minutes with the same players the way we want to play. Players coming off the bench can affect the game.

"Victor almost had another penalty but the referee whistled before conceding it but it was even more clear. So he has really affected the game."

Goalscorer Dominik Szoboszlai spoke to MOTD: "It was a nice game. I would be more happy if we took the three points. But we take the positives, take the one point."

On manager Iraola: "We are still getting to know each other, the whole team and coaching staff. But we have a good company together and good team spirit and that's all that's needed to be successful."

Did you know?

• Liverpool remain unbeaten on matchday one in the Premier League in each of the last 14 seasons (since 2013-14), the longest active run in the competition.

• Arne Slot in 2024-25 is the only one of Liverpool's last seven managers to win their first Premier League game in charge of the club (D4 L2 – counting Houllier's first as joint with Evans).

Listen to Iraola's chat with BBC Radio Merseyside here

Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool deserve credit for not giving up and fighting until the end, but the draw will only paper over some of the cracks that had been on display.

The Reds had 60% possession and 27 attempts on goal but despite that too many players had below-par games.

Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez disappointed in the full-back positions, while Alexander Isak was quiet on his first return to the side he left last September for a £125m move to Anfield.

Instead, Liverpool's most dangerous player was Gakpo, yet his future at the club is uncertain amid links with a move to Tottenham, and what happens this week in the transfer market - both in terms of incomings and outgoings - could prove pivotal in determining the sort of season Andoni Iraola's side will have.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live after Liverpool's draw against Newcastle: "There wasn't a great deal in [the match] but you can see the weaknesses that Liverpool had last season have not gone away. The defence doesn't look quite there. I would say Ronald Araujo came on and looked quite impressive. very, very powerful and very, very strong. He might be a massive part of the answer.

"In terms of pace, there is a problem there but going forward they need to be a little bit more creative.

"You're expecting Liverpool to get top four this season at least, but they didn't look like a top four team today. There's more players to come in, so you can't make a real decision on how their season is going to go.

"There's a definite lack of creativity and somehow they must get the best out of Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak because they certainly didn't get the best out of them today."

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Newcastle's performance

What did you make of Liverpool's display?

Reaction and analysis to follow - and come back on Monday for a selection of your replies.

There are three games in the Premier League on Sunday as the opening weekend continues, and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Brighton v Aston Villa - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

• Man City v Bournemouth - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Newcastle v Liverpool (16:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 14:00 BST unless stated.

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You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on your smart speaker. Just say "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play Brighton v Aston Villa" or "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play the Newcastle match", for example.

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I like everything I've seen from new Newcastle boss Matthias Jaissle, but he's had the heart ripped out of his team with Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes leaving.

They were two absolute monsters in midfield, who were horrible to play against, but they have gone - and so has the influence of Anthony Gordon and the experience of Kieran Trippier.

It is sad to see. That's not to say Newcastle can't do well now, but I think their fans are realistic about this season and how it will go.

This will be a fascinating game because Liverpool are still adapting to life under Andoni Iraola and have struggled defensively in pre-season. Hopefully they can run for more than half an hour now, too.

I don't think they will have any problems up front, however.

Alexander Isak will get quite a reception - and not in a good way - from the home crowd, but I do think he will shine for Liverpool this year and that starts on Sunday.

Sutton's prediction: 1-3

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport journalist

St James' Park plays host to the meeting of two new managers this weekend as one of the highest scoring fixtures in Premier League history resumes on Tyneside.

Andoni Iraola ended three seasons at Bournemouth with a bang after leading the Cherries to European football for the first time and his arrival at Liverpool earlier this summer was well received following the decline under predecessor Arne Slot.

Following their title win with 84 points under Slot in 2024-25, Liverpool slipped to sixth last season after earning just 60. It was the biggest drop-off in terms of the overall points tally of any Premier League team when comparing the past two campaigns.

The arrival of Iraola, however, has been tempered by fan frustration surrounding Liverpool's limited transfer activity following the departure of Mohamed Salah.

Salah scored 257 goals and provided 120 assists in 442 games for the club but Liverpool have yet to bring in a new right winger, while the squad also looks light in central midfield where Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister are the only senior options.

Salah's absence and the lack of a direct replacement is likely to result in an increased focus on Alexander Isak. The £125m signing struggled amid injury problems after swapping St James' Park for Anfield in a protracted move last summer.

He returns to his former club for the first time on Sunday afternoon having scored just four goals in 22 games for Liverpool so far.

Newcastle kick off proceedings without Eddie Howe for the first time in five years, with replacement Matthias Jaissle taking charge of a Premier League side for the first time in his career.

Jaissle has won his opening game in charge at his three previous clubs and his Al-Ahli side were unbeaten at home in the Saudi Pro League last season.

The former Salzburg boss has midfield woes of his own to contend with following the departures of Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali, while Anthony Gordon has also been sold to Barcelona.

Newcastle have made seven new signings but a focus on youth means that a side that finished 12th last season is very much in transition. Jaissle's immediate task may be to simply steady the ship.

The Magpies have both scored (14) and conceded (13) in each of their last seven Premier League home games, while they have failed to defeat the Reds in the past 19 league meetings (D5, L14).

Liverpool had struggles of their own on the road last season, losing nine matches, but they have opened with a victory in each of the past 13 seasons.

Whoever the winner, one thing that this Premier League fixture usually promises is goals. There have been 198 scored so far – two more would make it just the third fixture in the competition's history to reach a double century.