Well, that wasn't in the script.
The Andoni Iraola era is underway, but the Liverpool head coach faces a massive halftime rescue job after watching his side fall 1-0 down to Newcastle on the opening day of the 2026/27 Premier League season.
For all the talk of Liverpool’s proud 14-year opening-day unbeaten streak and their stellar recent record at St James' Park, history means very little when you turn in a first-half display this disjointed. The Reds have looked every bit a team in transition, struggling to handle Newcastle’s intense pressing while failing to carve out anything meaningful of their own.
Anthony Elanga's goal in the fifth minute separates the two sides, where the Magpies were able to punish poor decision making in the final third by Liverpool and hit the visitors on the counter.
Elanga sped past Milos Kerkez and William Osula played him in before the Swede slotted cooly past Alisson.
In the battle of new manager against new manager, it's Matthias Jaissle who has come out on top so far. It's been a hotly-contested opener where both teams have had several bookings and neither have truly controlled proceedings.
Here are our player ratings for the first half:
GK: Alisson - 6.0
The Brazilian was powerless to stop Anthony Elanga's goal and otherwise had a quiet first-half.
RB : Jeremie Frimpong - 6.2
Frimpong has contained Harvey Barnes quite well. The Englishman has not been able to do much on the ball, and he has made some good runs beyond Ngumoha. On a yellow.
RCB: Jeremy Jacquet - 6.3
In only his second start for Liverpool, the Frenchman has been thrown in the deep end away at Newcastle. Despite conceding an early goal Liverpool's number five has limited Osula to few very opportunities.
LCB: Virgil van Dijk (C) - 6.4
The skipper couldn't do much for the first goal, but was otherwise a commanding presence in the heart of Liverpool's defence.
LB: Milos Kerkez - 5.1
Kerkez wasn't able to keep up with Elanga for Newcastle's opener, got booked, shot wildly over the bar after a corner and was rash in his decision making. Not the best 45 minutes.
CM: Ryan Gravenberch - 6.5
The Dutchman gave away the ball prior to Newcastle's goal, and should have shot instead. Otherwise has made some good turns and has been driving the Reds forward in the search for an equaliser.
CM: Dominik Szoboszlai - 6.2
Liverpool's number eight has had a quiet first 45. He's not been able to get on the ball much and has struggled to get into the game. Has had some decent free-kick deliveries.
RW: Rio Ngumoha - 5.8
Starting in the relatively unfamiliar right-wing spot, he's not been able to cause Newcastle issues. Lewis Hall has contained him well and it's clear the young winger is still learning the position.
CAM: Florian Wirtz - 6.1
The German had a good attempt in the 18th minute which forced a smart save from Lukas Hornicek, but apart from that has not featured much in the game.
LW: Cody Gakpo - 6.3
After a strong pre-season many Liverpool fans hoped that this would mean a change in the Gakpo that was seen last season. And that so far is the case. Better decision making and not ignoring his overlapping fullback has resulted in a solid first half.
ST: Alexander Isak - 5.9
His return to Tyneside has been underwhelming. The Swede gave the ball away a few to many times and hasn't been able to make his mark in this season's opener for the Reds.
Hopefully the Reds come out in the second half and put on a much different, and improved, performance.
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