Andoni Iraola reveals why Dominik Szoboszlai took Liverpool’s penalty instead of Alexander Isak

Liverpool Penalty Taker Debate Grows After Szoboszlai Rescues Point at Newcastle

Liverpool left St James’ Park with a point, and a fresh question. Who is the club’s first-choice penalty taker now?

The late spot-kick was the defining moment of a tense afternoon against Newcastle. For most of the game, the home crowd had focused on Alexander Isak, booing him relentlessly. That made the final seconds particularly intriguing. If Liverpool were going to get one chance to save the match, many expected the £125m striker might take it.

He did not.

Instead, Dominik Szoboszlai stepped forward and smashed the penalty past Lukas Hornicek. Clean strike, no drama, no argument once the ball hit the net. Liverpool had their draw, and Newcastle had escaped the scenario they had feared all afternoon.

Szoboszlai Takes Centre Stage

This is where the discussion starts. Mohamed Salah had been Liverpool’s regular penalty taker until his summer exit, and that role is now open. Isak has the profile and status to claim it. Szoboszlai has the technique and, after this, the evidence.

There is also context. Isak had endured a difficult day. The atmosphere was hostile, the reception fierce, and his overall display lacked certainty. In that situation, giving the ball to a calmer option made sense. Sentiment has no place here. Penalties are about execution.

Szoboszlai has taken penalties for Liverpool before and scored. That matters. So does the manner of this finish. Hornicek guessed, but it was irrelevant. The strike was too good.

Iraola Keeps Liverpool Guessing

After the game, Andoni Iraola was asked the obvious question, whether the circumstances had led to Szoboszlai taking responsibility instead of Isak. He did what smart managers do when there is no need to give a straight answer.

“I think we have not only Dom and Alexander – we have more very good specialists,” said the Basque.

“Alexis [Mac Allister] also was on the pitch and he’s a very good penalty-taker, Cody [Gakpo] – we have a lot.

“But I think Dom showed the level. It’s an almost impossible penalty to stop. I was happy obviously because at the end we recovered one point”

That is accurate, and carefully non-committal. Iraola praised the finish without confirming a hierarchy. He left himself room, which usually tells you the decision is still open.

Isak Question Will Not Go Away

Some supporters will see this as a missed moment for Isak. Big-money forwards are expected to want the ball, especially in a hostile stadium and especially after a poor game. Others will say the only thing that mattered was scoring, and Liverpool got that right.

Both views are fair. What matters next is consistency. If Szoboszlai is now Liverpool’s penalty taker, say it through selection. If it remains situational, expect this debate to resurface the next time a big kick arrives.

For now, Liverpool got what they needed. The point was saved. The pecking order was not settled.

Source: sports.yahoo.com