Liverpool began the new Premier League season with a 2-2 draw against Newcastle United, needing a 99th-minute penalty from Dominik Szoboszlai to rescue a point at a raucous St James' Park. The result avoided a first opening-weekend defeat since the 2012-13 campaign, but left the side with more questions than answers. Manager Andoni Iraola told BBC Radio 5 Live that his side did not deserve to lose and had never given up. “It's probably not the result you want when you come in before the game but we definitely deserve this point and even more,” he said. “The team has never given up and we've recovered one point and probably the taste is better because we score in the last minute.” Former Scotland winger Pat Nevin was more critical, saying Liverpool did not look like a top-four team. “There's a definite lack of creativity and somehow they must get the best out of Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak because you certainly didn't get the best out of them today,” Nevin said. Isak, a Swedish striker signed from Newcastle last September after a drawn-out saga, was booed relentlessly whenever he touched the ball and wasted a clear second-half chance. Wirtz started positively but was replaced just after the hour when Newcastle went 2-1 up. Both players were signed for nine-figure fees last summer and need to improve their output and connection. Cody Gakpo was Liverpool's best player at Newcastle and scored a fine goal, but his future remains uncertain in the final week of the transfer window. If the club brings in two more attacking players, Gakpo may leave. Spanish forward Victor Munoz made his Liverpool debut from the bench and won the late penalty after replacing Ngumoha. The English teenager, who turns 18 next week, was taken off after just over an hour after struggling on the right wing. Ngumoha has preferred the left flank throughout his youth career, and it remains to be seen whether that experiment continues once more attackers arrive. Defensively, full-backs Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong had poor games, and Liverpool were undone on the counter-attack for both Newcastle goals. The absence of a defensive midfielder was apparent, with Iraola moving Alexis Mac Allister just ahead of the back four after Joe Willock's goal made it 2-1. Liverpool have now conceded nine goals from fast breaks in all competitions since the start of last season, more than any other Premier League side. Iraola found positives in the energy of his bench players and said the team finished strongly physically. Szoboszlai told Sky Sports: “We will never give up. I can guarantee you that. We have to fight every time - all day long during the 90 minutes. Everybody who came off the bench also made an impact as well. We need the whole squad and we need to be ready.” The draw may lift spirits, but the need for reinforcements in both quality and quantity is clear. Iraola said he prefers to wait until the day after a match for a full debrief. For the moment, the late penalty felt more like relief than joy. Liverpool supporters in Somalia and across the Somali diaspora will be watching closely to see whether Wirtz, Isak and the other new arrivals build an understanding quickly. The transfer window and the early results can shape those fans’ expectations for a title challenge.