Iraola’s Reaction to Liverpool’s 2-2 EPL Draw

Head coach Andoni Iraola says he is happy with Liverpool’s opening English Premier League (EPL) performance on Sunday, 23 August.

The Reds took on Newcastle at St James’ Park in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, and were off to a slow start after the Magpies’ Anthony Elanga scored in the fifth minute. The visitors levelled the score after Cody Gakpo hit the back of the net in the 55th minute.

Although the hosts quickly restored their advantage in the 57th minute, Liverpool snatched a 2-2 draw at the death, with Dominik Szoboszlai converting a penalty in stoppage time to salvage a point.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Iraola praised his men for giving the match their all until the final whistle.

“Before the game, we wouldn’t have signed this result, probably,” the 44-year-old Spaniard said. “But it is true that I think it is a reward, because I think we’ve never given up; I think we’ve put a lot of pressure [on] Newcastle, and we had to wait until the end.”

He added: “I think [in the] second half, we’ve been more decisive … we put a lot more pressure [on], we [created] more set plays, more crosses, more things inside the box … It’s not a lot, one point [from Szoboszlai], but at least it’s something that is deserved.”

Both Liverpool and Newcastle are tied for ninth place – with one point apiece – in the EPL rankings.

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