Yoane Wissa's 9 was the headline number from Newcastle's ratings, with Anthony Elanga next on 8 after scoring five minutes in. Those marks tell most of the story. Newcastle had players who looked ready, lively and dangerous, yet the match context supplied by multiple reports still ends with frustration after a late Dominik Szoboszlai penalty.

There is an awkward wrinkle around Newcastle vs Liverpool, because source reports describe a dramatic 2-2 draw while the fixture status elsewhere is not listed that way. Sticking to what is consistent across the coverage, the ratings point to two standouts, a promising debut and a late sting that changed the feel of the afternoon.

Wissa and Elanga drove Newcastle's best work

Wissa's 9/10 was the top mark, and it was backed up by the reaction in the ground. He went off to a standing ovation, which usually tells you as much as any rating column. When a player gets that response in a game with this much chaos around it, he has plainly been Newcastle's main attacking reference point.

Elanga's 8 carried a clear reason too. He scored Newcastle's opener just five minutes into the match, giving the home side the sort of start that should settle a new side and lift the crowd. In a game framed by big swings, that early goal made him one of the obvious names in the ratings.

William Osula also deserves more than a passing mention. He was rated 7, created the early goal with his assist and was credited with playing through the pain barrier. That is the kind of contribution managers tend to remember even when the wider mood sours.

The same applies to Lewis Miley, who also landed on 8. Newcastle's best performances were not only about pace and direct running; Miley's rating points to real control in midfield, especially useful in a game where Liverpool were still credited with 61% possession.

The late penalty changed the mood

The reports all land in roughly the same place on the decisive moment. BBC Sport wrote: "Dominik Szoboszlai scored a 99th-minute penalty equaliser for Liverpool in a dramatic 2-2 draw at Newcastle United, whose new manager Matthias Jaissle was denied victory in his first Premier League game in charge."

That late call is central to how the ratings read. Lewis Hall was deemed to have fouled Victor Munoz for the penalty, so a match that seemed to be building toward a strong opening-day result instead turned into one of those afternoons where the individual scores are better than the final feeling.

James Cormack, quoted by si.com, described it this way: "Dominik Szoboszlai’s last-gasp penalty ensured the Andoni Iraola era didn’t begin with a defeat, as Liverpool played out a back-and-forth 2–2 draw with Newcastle United in the Premier League."

Even allowing for the inconsistency around the fixture status, the broad pattern is still clear enough. Newcastle had enough threat to lead the conversation on performances, but not enough control to stop the late damage becoming the lasting image.

Signs of promise beyond the headline ratings

There were encouraging details outside the two main names. Amar Dedić was rated 7 on debut after his £30m move from Benfica, and the coverage around him was positive. For a first outing in a game this messy, that is a decent start.

At the back, Malick Thiaw was said to have made seven blocked shots overall. That is a lot of emergency defending, and it helps explain why Newcastle's better attacking moments still did not bring a calmer game state.

Lukáš Horníček also came away with a 7 on debut, which fits the general theme here. Newcastle did not look short of players who can contribute. They looked like a side with real promise, but also one still vulnerable to the kind of late swing that wipes the gloss off strong individual displays.

Wissa's 9 and Elanga's 8 are the numbers most supporters will remember first. The rest of the ratings suggest Newcastle found plenty to like in the performance, even if the late Szoboszlai moment is the part that will dominate the post-match conversation.

FAQ

Who were Newcastle's best-rated players against Liverpool?

Yoane Wissa led Newcastle's ratings with a 9, while Anthony Elanga and Lewis Miley both received 8s. Wissa's display even brought a standing ovation, and Elanga's mark followed Newcastle's opener five minutes into the game.

Why was Anthony Elanga rated so highly for Newcastle against Liverpool?

Elanga was given an 8 after scoring Newcastle's opener just five minutes into the match. The ratings angle was built around him and Yoane Wissa as the side's standout attacking performers.

Did a late penalty change the mood of Newcastle vs Liverpool?

Yes. Reports around the game describe Dominik Szoboszlai scoring a last-gasp penalty, with Lewis Hall deemed to have fouled Victor Munoz. That late moment turned a strong set of Newcastle individual displays into a more frustrating story.

How did Newcastle's new signings and younger players perform against Liverpool?

There were encouraging signs. Amar Dedic was rated 7 on debut after his £30m move from Benfica, and Lewis Miley earned an 8 for his midfield display. The ratings suggest Newcastle already have some early cohesion in the side.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →