Liverpool escape Newcastle's trap in the dying moments
Liverpool snatched a hard-fought 2-2 draw away to hosts Newcastle United today in the opening round of the English Premier League.
In their official debuts for Liverpool and Newcastle respectively, Spaniard Andoni Iraola and German Matthias Jaissle saw the match end in a draw, allowing both sides to start their campaigns with a point.
Anthony Elanga gave Newcastle the lead in the fifth minute, before Dutchman Cody Gakpo equalized for Liverpool in the 55th minute. However, substitute Joe Willock restored Newcastle’s lead in the 57th minute. In the ninth minute of second-half stoppage time, Liverpool were awarded a penalty, which Hungarian Dominik Szoboszlai converted to secure the equalizer.
Liverpool will play their next match at home against Nottingham Forest, while Newcastle will visit Tottenham on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Manchester City began life under the new management following the departure of iconic Spanish manager Pep Guardiola, with whom he won every possible trophy over a decade, with a very hard-fought 2-1 home victory over Bournemouth, after trailing until the final minutes.
City started poorly, fielding their youngest squad for a new Premier League season opener since 2008-09 (25 years and 28 days, compared to 22 years and 360 days then), according to Opta statistics. They found themselves trailing in the 26th minute through Marcus Tavernier, following a precise cross from Brazilian Evanilson.
Dutchman Justin Kluivert almost added a second goal for the visitors, but was denied by the outstanding performance of Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who saved his shot in the 41st minute.
The score remained unchanged until the end of the first half. City suffered a blow early in the second half when new signing Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest was injured, making way for Croatian Mateo Kovačić. Manager Roberto Martínez also made a second change, bringing on Frenchman Ryan Sessegnon for Nico O’Reilly in the 63rd minute.
City came close to equalizing in the 67th minute with a shot from Ghanaian Antonio Sèmenyo, but Serbian goalkeeper Georgi Petkov saved brilliantly.
However, from a corner taken by Sessegnon, City equalized with a header from Guehi in the 84th minute. Guardiola then snatched the win in the first minute of stoppage time, following an intricate pass from Sessegnon. The goal was initially disallowed for offside, but was awarded after intervention by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
Aston Villa, last season’s fourth-placed team and Europa League winners, had a disastrous start, suffering a heavy 4-0 defeat at Brighton. The match, managed by Spanish coach Unai Emery, was played with only 10 men.
The loss cannot be justified solely by the numerical disadvantage, as Villa conceded all four goals in the first half through a Victor Lindelöf own goal and strikes from Belgian Maxime De Cuyper (18th minute) and Jack Hinshelwood (30th and 31st minutes). Their new Brazilian signing, João Gomes, was then sent off with a red card in the 40th minute for a foul on Frenchman Giorgio Rutter.
The summer arrival from Wolverhampton became the first player to be sent off in the first half of his debut Premier League match for a new club since Malian Samba Diakité in February 2012 during a Queens Park Rangers versus Fulham game, according to Opta.
