Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai scored a penalty with the last kick of the game to rescue a dramatic 2-2 draw against Newcastle in Andoni Iraola's first match in charge of the Reds in the English Premier League, on Sunday.
Iraola is the figurehead of a new era for Liverpool after Arne Slot's close-season sacking and Mohamed Salah's departure to Trabzonspor. Liverpool's first steps into the future were uncomfortable, with Newcastle exposing the defensive flaws that proved fatal for Slot last season.
Anthony Elanga put Newcastle ahead in the first half before Liverpool's Cody Gakpo equalised soon after the interval. Joe Willock's first League goal since 2024 restored Newcastle's advantage, but Szoboszlai held his nerve to net with a stoppage-time penalty after Lewis Hall fouled Victor Muñoz.
Earlier, Enzo Maresca revealed Rayan Cherki was frustrated to be left on the bench before the "unbelievable" Manchester City playmaker inspired a dramatic 2-1 win against Bournemouth.
Maresca opted to select Phil Foden and Antoine Semenyo instead of Cherki for his first Premier League game as City boss. But with City trailing to Marcus Tavernier's first-half goal at the Etihad Stadium, the Italian was forced into a change of plan in the 62nd minute.
Maresca sent on Cherki, who is short of full fitness after the Fifa World Cup 2026, and the French star responded by showing why he should have started in the first place. Cherki's corner was headed in by Marc Guéhi for City's 84th-minute equaliser, and he then played a deft pass to Joško Gvardiol, who slotted the winner two minutes into stoppage time.
"The impact was unbelievable, he is that kind of player," Maresca said.
"I like Rayan, I told him also after the game, but sometimes when you plan a game and you already have four out of 11 players who arrived late, if you go with one more maybe the difference is too big."
Cherki sometimes frustrated Maresca's predecessor Pep Guardiola with his volatile personality and habit of unfurling flamboyant tricks instead of simple passes last season. But Maresca insisted he had no problem with Cherki's character or ability.
"Rayan is quite a nice and clear boy. If he is not happy he wants to show it and I know that he was not happy today, but at the end I had to take a decision," Maresca said.
Meanwhile, Brighton launched their campaign with a dominant 4-0 win over 10-man Aston Villa at the Amex Stadium. It took the Seagulls just eight minutes to open the scoring as Maxim de Cuyper forced an own goal from Victor Lindelöf before the Belgian made it 2-0 10 minutes later.
Uefa Europa League champions Villa, who finished fourth in England's top flight last season, then capitulated completely as Jack Hinshelwood struck two goals in as many minutes to put Brighton 4-0 up. To make matters worse for the visitors, Unai Emery's side were reduced to 10 men following a red card for João Gomes, whose nightmare debut lasted just 40 minutes. | AFP