Jaissle opener brings hope, despite late heartbreak - Newcastle 2-2 Liverpool
Devastated not to win. Delighted with the performance. That just about sums it up, for me.
In a 2-2 draw with Liverpool where our deserved lead was undone at the death, there was so much to be pleased and proud of from Matthias Jaissle’s Mags.
So much heart, energy and organisation, two superb breakaway goals, several strong debuts and so many superb individual displays, along with one massive collective effort. If that’s the Jaissle blueprint, we’ll be OK this season.
Yoane Wissa played and ran like a man possessed. Lewis Miley ran the show despite just 45 minutes of football since his leg break in May. Lewis Hall was superb before the late penalty. An improved Anthony Elanga is off the mark, Amar Dedic took to the Premier League like a duck to water on debut, Sven Botman was much better, defending our box well, and Lukas Hornicek produced an assured display with both his hands and feet.
Is it two points dropped? In the circumstances, yes, and a reminder of late frailties that cost us too often last season. But it was a performance filled with positives on a day where some thought we'd be torn apart after such a tough summer.
Emotions, Elanga and a strong first 45
It felt like a rollercoaster of emotions just leading up to kick-off. Excitement and anxiety ahead of a new season and new era following so much change. Frustration ready to be vented at the returning Alexander Isak, and tears at the ready surrounding a true footballing legend, with Wor Flags, Newcastle and Liverpool all coming together to remember the great Kevin Keegan.
Jaissle handed starts to Miley and Steur, despite the former only managing 45 minutes of action over pre-season. At the back, Dan Burn’s ankle injury saw Sven Botman start, with new boys Dedic and Hornicek also in for their full debuts.
Newcastle XI: Hornicek; Dedic, Thiaw, Botman, Hall; Miley, Steur; Elanga, Wissa, Barnes; Osula
Substitutes: Jaouen, Schar, Bamba, Toure, Murphy, Woltemade, Willock, Ramsey, Shahar.
Liverpool XI: Alisson; Frimpong, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Ngumoha, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak.
St James’ Park was alive and it erupted five minutes in. The sort of fast break Jaissle promised, a perfect through ball from Osula and Elanga with the finish. Exactly 12 months ago, he wasted a similar away to Aston Villa and went on to score zero league goals for the season. This time, he made no mistake! 1-0 Newcastle and a dream start to the Jaissle era.
Miley was marshalling our midfield superbly, sweeping up loose ball and showing composure beyond his years. However, there were gaps as Liverpool pushed for an equaliser. Steur had a few sloppy moments and has plenty to work on out of possession, Dedic was all action on his debut, despite diving in a little early on, and fellow new boy Hornicek made an outstanding low save to deny Wirtz at the Gallowgate.
Wissa was brilliant and my man of the match, with Miley not far behind. The term ‘like a new signing’ gets overused, but he looked EVERYTHING he wasn’t last season. Razor sharp, super fit and a constant ball of energy who linked the play, drove forward with the ball, provided a stunning assist for Willock and showed great movement.
Willock stunner spoilt in stoppage time
After a slow-ish start to the second 45, Gakpo’s strike to make it 1-1 had been coming, with the Dutchman firing just over two minutes before his low strike. Slack closing down, which was a theme of pre-season in goals conceded against Valencia and Leverkusen, but we wasted no time in responding.
A brilliant Wissa burst and composed pass fed Willock, who produced a curling finish past Alisson to send the Gallowgate wild. 2-1, and credit to Jaissle, who made a double change minutes earlier, swapping a tiring Steur and limping Osula for Jacob Ramsey and Joe Willock.
Both sides then had moments, but we must've wondered how a third didn't com. Either side of Isak smashing high into the Leazes End, Hall and Murphy both delivered low balls into the box that were begging to be tapped in, but just evaded Wissa and Barnes each time.
More changes saw Aladji Bamba and Jacob Murphy replace a spent Miley and Elanga, who'd both given their all, then Wissa went clean through from Willock's dinked pass in behind. A huge chance to make it 3-1, only for the DR Congo star's low effort to be smothered by the onrushing Alisson.
And then came the moment we were all dreading. Just as five minutes of stoppage time had been played, Hall's clumsy tackle on Munoz brought down the Spaniard, who almost arrived on Tyneside in June, and Szoboslai did the rest from the spot. A 2-2 draw and late heartbreak again, but there is so much to be hopeful about after that.
Next up, hopefully Nico Gonzalez breakthrough before we welcome West Brom in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night.
Keep the faith. Howay the lads!
