Liverpool have answered one question but two major concerns still remain for Andoni Iraola

A Point Saved, But Questions Linger for Liverpool's New Era

Andoni Iraola's first competitive match as Liverpool manager ended in a 2-2 draw at St James' Park on August 23, a result that felt more like an escape than an endorsement. Liverpool had to rely on Dominik Szoboszlai's late penalty, converted in the ninth minute of stoppage time, to secure a point after Newcastle United twice took the lead. The match, the opening weekend of the Premier League season, was marked by Kevin Keegan's memory being honored before kickoff, with the late Liverpool and Newcastle great remembered at the ground where he was a celebrated player.

The drama was fitting for this fixture, which has a recent history of late goals. That hasn't changed. But for Liverpool, the deeper story lies in the alarming patterns that remain under a new head coach.

The Match: A Tale of Counter-Attacks and a Late Rescue

Newcastle took the lead inside five minutes when Anthony Elanga latched onto a counter-attack, finishing after a poor pass from Ryan Gravenberch on the edge of the Newcastle area. Gravenberch, Liverpool's holding midfielder, should have shot but instead gave the ball away, lit the fuse for Elanga's goal. Liverpool levelled after halftime through Cody Gakpo's long-range strike, but any sense of control evaporated barely two and a half minutes later when Joe Willock scored his second for the Magpies, with Yoan Wissa carrying the ball and releasing Willock.

Liverpool's response came late, and it was not from a flowing team move. New signing Victor Munoz came off the bench and won a penalty deep in injury time, with the foul attributed to Lewis Hall by some reports and to Lewis Miley by others. From the spot, Szoboszlai made no mistake. The 99th-minute penalty secured the draw.

Iraola Under Scrutiny from the Start

For a manager appointed to revive Liverpool's high-pressing identity, the opening game was a stark reminder of the work ahead. As several reports noted, the issues that plagued the team under previous coach Arne Slot were still present, particularly the vulnerability to counter-attacks. Both Newcastle goals came directly from Liverpool losing the ball near the Newcastle area—a pattern that was there for all to see.

The statistics underline the recurring theme: this is the first time Liverpool have conceded two goals from fast breaks in a single game since last August against Bournemouth, as reported by ESPN. And it was a performance that put the spotlight squarely on the midfield, where Gravenberch and Szoboszlai formed the pivot but were overrun.

Despite that, Iraola insisted after the match that the solution does not necessarily lie solely in the transfer market. "It's not just personnel," he said, according to several reports. "We have to adapt as a team to these situations." He argued that the first goal was a result of a missed chance; the team should have taken its opportunity on the edge of the box. "We have to correct between a lot of players," he added—a nod to a team-wide issue, not just a single midfielder.

Szoboszlai, who took the penalty, echoed the fighting spirit, telling Sky Sports: "We have to fight... everybody who comes off the bench made a big impact." Indeed it was a substitute, Victor Munoz, who repeated the decisive action.

Depth Concerns and the Transfer Deadline Looming

With just eight days left in the transfer window, the wider context of the match was the fragility of Liverpool's squad depth. The bench at Newcastle was a mix of young players and first-team regulars—Chiesa missed out with a knock in training, and notable absence of Harvey Elliott, who wasn't even in the matchday squad despite no reported injury. Elliott's situation has become a talking point, after a difficult loan at Aston Villa and an uncertain pre-season.

Elliott's future is clouded, with reports that he is unsure whether to stay and fight for his place. His omission from the squad has added weight to suggestions he may move on, though a loan or sale would be complicated.

Beyond depth, the squad's structural gaps were clear: both full-backs, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez, were caught high up the pitch, exposing the center-backs on counter-attacks. Kerkez, targeted for the opening goal when he was outpaced by Elanga, had an afternoon of frustration—he was berated by Iraola for being slow to close down Elanga and later by Virgil van Dijk for being too slow to engage and opponent. Even if he posted some positive stats, his performance showed.

The transfer links that form the backdrop: Liverpool's names linked with a move for PSG's Bradley Barcola and Brighton's Yankuba Minteh. According to the Daily Star, Barcola has been left out of PSG's squad for two matches, and a bid of £111m to £128m might be accepted, although PSG are demanding more. Minteh has reportedly agreed personal terms with Liverpool, but Brighton have rejected two bids and want £70m, according to the same report, which also cites Fabrizio Romano as stating that Barcola is Liverpool's priority and that Minteh dreams of moving to Anfield.

Iraola's need for a defensive midfielder and a right-winger was a recurring theme following the match, as the Liverpool Echo pointed out. However, word of arrival is still just that—talk. Reports also suggest Liverpool are content with their current midfield group, which may worry supporters.

The Promise of Youth in Middle of a Storm

Amid the concerns, there were some positives to take. Jeremy Jacquet, the young centre-back, made his Premier League debut and impressed with composure and enough, especially after a good pre-season. He was replaced by another new signing, Ronald Araujo, who gave a solid second-half performance and provided the platform for the late raid. Lewis Koumas also made his Premier League debut as a substitute.

Jacquet and Araujo have given Liverpool early signs that the centre-back position—a key question coming into the new season—may be adequately addressed. In a friendly win over Como, they kept a clean sheet, leading to a sense of relief within the club. However, the next test comes quickly: their first home league game against Nottingham Forest at lunchtime on Saturday.

Looking Ahead

For Iraola, the draw was a result that showcased the team's resilience but also highlighted the defensive issues that need addressing. He set out to bring high intensity to Liverpool, and the team showed fight to get a point, but they also demonstrated why last season's title challenge fell short.

From the opening 90 minutes, the conclusion is that Liverpool have not yet solved the defensive crises that have plagued them. While the new centre-backs have provided early encouragement, the two major concerns—the midfield structure and the lack of width—remain on the agenda. The next nine days, until the September 1 deadline, will be crucial for sporting director Richard Hughes and the club's hierarchy. Whether they can bring in the missing pieces is another question, and one that Iraola's post-match comments did not fully address.

As the Echo wrote, moments like Szoboszlai's penalty are an emotional rescue, but they should not obscure the real work ahead. The draw was perhaps a result that left both sets of fans with a feeling of what could have been, and a season full of hopes.