Liverpool break 4 records after frantic 2-2 Newcastle United draw at St James' Park

You can always rely on last gasp drama whenever Newcastle United come up against Liverpool. On Sunday afternoon, it appeared as though Andoni Iraola's first Premier League game in charge was going to end in defeat. After falling behind very early, Cody Gakpo lashed home a long-range equaliser, only for Joe Willock to fire the Magpies back in front almost straight away.

The score remained 2-1 until the dying seconds, when Lewis Hall knocked over Víctor Muñoz and Stuart Attwell pointed to the penalty spot. Following a very long delay, Dominik Szoboszlai arrowed the spot-kick into the top corner, Lukáš Horníček barely even smelt it, as the Reds pinched a point right at the death on Tyneside.

In the circumstances, most Kopites will be content to take the point and run. It was certainly an eventful afternoon, so we've picked out four records the Reds broke during their season opener.

Liverpool's opening day unbeaten record

Liverpool's unbeaten streak on Premier League opening weekend continues, but only just. Szoboszlai's spot-kick in the dying embers means the Reds extend their undefeated matchday one sequence to 14 matches, which is the longest active series of any side in the competition. This is despite the fact that Anthony Elanga's fifth minute strike was actually the earliest Premier League opening day goal the Reds have ever conceded.

The last time they were beaten in their first fixture of a campaign was all the way back in 2012. In Brendan Rodgers' first game in charge, goals from Zoltán Gera, Peter Odemwingie and Romelu Lukaku saw the visitors smashed 3-0 by West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns, with Daniel Agger sent off late on that day.

Back then, Liverpool failed to win any of their first five matches, before finishing seventh and failing to qualify for Europe. Fair to say, Iraola is hoping to do rather better than Rodgers on Merseyside.

Liverpool fail to come from behind

Liverpool are famous for producing jaw-dropping comebacks. İstanbul 2005 and Barcelona in 2019 spring to mind. However, they've not managed much of that recently. Despite fighting back to earn a draw on Tyneside, the Reds have now failed to win any of the last 19 Premier League matches in which they have fallen behind.

They never achieved this during Arne Slot's two year tenure. Liverpool's last come from behind league victory came in December 2023 at Selhurst Park. That day, Jean-Philippe Mateta converted a penalty but then Jordan Ayew was sent off for Crystal Palace.

Mohamed Salah then equalised before, in injury time, forgotten man Harvey Elliott lashed home the winner. If Iraola's team are to be serious title challengers, this is a fact they will surely need to change.

Liverpool's vulnerability in transition

One of the themes of Liverpool's miserable campaign last time round was an obvious vulnerability in defensive transition. Well, this appears not to have gone a way, if anything it has got worse. This was a major talking point during pre-season, especially following the defeats to Leeds and Monaco.

Well, Iraola has still got plenty of work to do in this regard, it would seem. Both Elanga and Willock's goals came from fast breaks, giving Geordies a taste of what Matthias Jaissle's team are likely to be all about. So far across the Premier League's opening weekend, just four goals have been scored from fast breaks, half of which have been conceded by the Reds.

This is also the first time Liverpool have conceded two fast break goals in a single league game since the opening day of last season. That night, Iraola was in the away dugout at Anfield, with Antoine Semenyo scoring twice for Bournemouth, before Federico Chiesa and Salah struck late to snatch the win. Before Nottingham Forest visit next weekend, this has to be an issue Iraola aims to address.

Newcastle vs Liverpool: Goals guaranteed

We already mentioned that Newcastle against Liverpool guarantees drama. On a day tributes were paid to the late Kevin Keegan, the man adored by both sets of supporters, he would have loved that end-to-end thriller. Szoboszlai's spot-kick was the 202nd Premier League goal scored in matches between the Magpies and the Reds.

This makes it the second-highest scoring matchup in the competition's history, behind only Liverpool vs Tottenham, which has produced 211 goals. Worth noting that Newcastle have missed two Premier League seasons, while Spurs, just about, preserved their ever-present status on the final day of last season. Well, Liverpool will get the chance to extend that record when Roberto De Zerbi's team visit Anfield just before Christmas.

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