'We started the game the worst way we knew' - Andoni Iraola reflects on Liverpool's dramatic draw against Newcastle

Speaking to BBC after the final whistle, Iraola reflected on the chaotic nature of the opening fixture. Newcastle took the lead twice through Anthony Elanga and Joe Willock, but Cody Gakpo and Szoboszlai found equalisers for the visitors. Iraola acknowledged the difficulty of the match but found solace in the late comeback. "It's a strange feeling. Not the result we wanted but it's true, the way we scored the goal in the end, it tastes better. Still, we would have definitely preferred the win," the manager explained, highlighting the resilience shown by his squad after going 2-1 down.

Liverpool endured a difficult start on Sunday, falling behind inside five minutes. Iraola was critical of how his team began but praised their eventual reaction. "We started the game the worst way we knew. Newcastle away, first game of the season, the atmosphere, they have very fast players and we concede the goal," Iraola stated.

"They punished us and we had to go against the result. But we didn't give up in any moment." Reflecting on the second half, he added: "Once you concede the first goal, you need the game to go fast. You need things to happen when you're losing. We could control the game in the second half. We had better possession around their box. When we scored, it looked like we were the team going to turn the game but then they scored again."

The demanding nature of the clash took its toll, forcing the coaching staff to rely heavily on their bench. Speaking on Jeremy Jacquet and the impact of the replacements, Iraola noted: "Jeremy hasn't done a proper pre-season, so it was kind of expected that he didn't finish the game. All the substitutes gave us energy. We need it because it's difficult to last the full 90 minutes with the same players the way we want to play. Players coming off the bench can affect the game."

One such player was Victor Munoz, who won the late spot-kick. Iraola felt Munoz was denied an earlier foul, adding: "Victor almost had another penalty but the referee whistled before conceding it but it was even more clear. So he has really affected the game."

Following this demanding opening fixture against Newcastle, Liverpool will return to Anfield to host Nottingham Forest on Saturday, looking to secure their first league victory of the season. Iraola has a full week on the training pitch to integrate his tactical ideas and build on the resilience shown. The coaching staff will hope the squad can establish a sharper start in their upcoming match.