Dominik Szoboszlai scored a last-gasp penalty to earn Liverpool a 2-2 draw at Newcastle United in the first game of the Andoni Iraola era at Anfield.
Anthony Elanga put Newcastle ahead before Cody Gakpo levelled for Liverpool. Substitute Joe Willock restored Newcastle's lead, only for Szoboszlai to convert a thunderous penalty from 12 yards in the 99th minute to rescue a point that Liverpool would struggle to argue they deserved.
Alexander Isak, who left Newcastle for Liverpool in a reported £125million deal, was back at his old club and was booed by the St James' Park crowd with every touch.
Matthias Jaissle also made his home bow as Newcastle's new head coach, and was minutes away from a winning start before Lewis Hall's late error gifted Liverpool their equaliser.
Newcastle's defence stands firm
Goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek, a summer signing from Braga, produced a string of strong stops to deny Florian Wirtz and Isak. Fellow new arrival Amar Dedic had a tough afternoon against Gakpo and Milos Kerkez but stood tall throughout.
Malick Thiaw kept Isak largely quiet, while Sven Botman made a crucial last-ditch block to deny Victor Munoz late on. Both centre backs answered every question asked of them.
Lewis Hall was excellent for almost the entire match before conceding a needless penalty in the closing seconds, bringing down Munoz to hand Liverpool their leveller.
Elanga, Wissa and Osula lead the attack
Eighteen-year-old debutant Sean Steur impressed in midfield, though he was slow to close down Gakpo for Liverpool's goal. Local product Lewis Miley also shone in a Newcastle midfield stripped of Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali, with Joelinton also missing through injury.
Elanga scored the opener with a quick, composed finish after a rapid run that exploited Liverpool's defence. Yoane Wissa, playing as a No 10, delivered his best performance since joining Newcastle, at times unplayable.
Harvey Barnes did plenty of unseen work off the ball against Jeremie Frimpong, while Will Osula supplied a stellar assist for the opening goal and was rated the best number nine on the pitch, outshining Isak.
Jacob Ramsey and Willock both impressed after replacing Steur and Osula at half-time, with Willock's goal proving decisive before Szoboszlai's late leveller. Jacob Murphy, Aladji Bamba and Fabian Schar also came off the bench.
Liverpool's defence toils under pressure
Alisson's positioning was questioned for Newcastle's opening goal, though he could do little about the second and made several strong saves to keep Liverpool in the game. Frimpong offered little going forward and was among several players bypassed too easily as Willock scored.
Jeremy Jacquet made his Liverpool debut with crisp passing and some solid tackling. Virgil van Dijk looked off the pace at times as Liverpool struggled to deal with balls played in behind their back line.
Kerkez was outpaced for Newcastle's opener and was berated by Isak in the 73rd minute after misplacing a cross.
Szoboszlai bails out a below-par Liverpool attack
Szoboszlai's thunderous penalty rescued a poor collective display from his teammates in the final second of the game. Ryan Gravenberch's forward runs repeatedly left Liverpool exposed to the counter-attacks that led to Newcastle's goals.
Rio Ngumoha, deployed on the right rather than his favoured left flank, was largely ineffective, underlining Liverpool's need to sign a new winger. Wirtz endured an anonymous display to begin what is meant to be a defining season, his best moment a first-half effort that Hornicek tipped wide.
Gakpo scored a stunning equaliser and should have added a second minutes later but took one touch too many. Despite being heavily linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur this summer, he was rated Liverpool's best attacker on the day. Isak got into good areas but was let down by poor service from teammates on a difficult return to Newcastle.
Alexis Mac Allister and Munoz came on for Wirtz and Ngumoha respectively just after the hour mark, with Munoz later winning the penalty that saved Liverpool's afternoon. Ronald Araujo replaced Jacquet, and Lewis Koumas came on for Gravenberch late in the game.
Managers and referee
Jaissle was praised for getting his tactics and substitutions right on his Premier League bow, undone only by Hall's late penalty concession. Iraola's Liverpool side avoided defeat but the result underlined the club's need for fresh signings this week if they are to meet their ambitions this season.
Referee Stuart Attwell was quick with his cards early in the match but was judged to have got the major decisions correct, including the stoppage-time penalty award.
