Newcastle draw 2-2 with Liverpool as former hero Keegan hailed

Aug 23 : Liverpool snatched a dramatic 2-2 draw with Newcastle United at St James' Park on Sunday as Dominik Szoboszlai converted a stoppage-time penalty on a day when both sets of fans united to honour their shared hero Kevin Keegan, who died aged 75 in July.

As so often when the two sides met during Keegan's managerial career at Newcastle, there was a crucial late goal, with the Hungary international blasting his spot-kick into the top corner to steal a point that looked to have slipped away from the visitors.

Anthony Elanga had given Newcastle a dream start to the season, scoring in the fifth minute before Cody Gakpo levelled for Liverpool early in the second half.

Joe Willock came off the bench to score what looked likely to be the winner for Newcastle, but deep into stoppage time, Newcastle defender Lewis Hall barged into Liverpool substitute Victor Munoz, and Szoboszlai fired home.

Keegan was an important part of the history of both clubs, first with his goal-scoring exploits as a striker on Merseyside before his spells as a player and manager that brought Newcastle back to the top echelons of English football.

As a coach on Tyneside he was famed for his all-out attacking approach and hair-raising defending, and the VIP seats were filled with former Newcastle forwards who had come to pay tribute, as did Liverpool icon Kenny Dalglish, who replaced Keegan when the latter left Liverpool for Hamburg in 1977. 

Former England internationals and Newcastle forwards Alan Shearer, Les Ferdinand and Peter Beardsley were all present, as was mercurial Colombian Faustino Asprilla, sporting a bucket hat in the club’s colours.

Elanga quickly gave the former Newcastle heroes something to cheer about when he crowned an incisive