Wissa shines as Isak struggles - Newcastle v Liverpool player ratings

Lukas Hornicek: Solid Premier League debut. Made a flying save to get down to keep out Florian Wirtz's effort in the first half and pushed away Alexander Isak's header after the break. Calm in possession. 7Amar Dedic: First outing for the club just a few days after completing a £30m move from Benfica. Made a crucial intervention in build-up to goal to slide in and hook ball away as Ryan Gravenberch looked to pick out Cody Gakpo. 7Malick Thiaw: Wore the captain's armband in Dan Burn's absence. Battled. Looked to pick out William Osula with ball over top and put Liverpool under pressure. 7Sven Botman: Was rusty in pre-season, but a little more assured here. Made one big block to get in the way of countryman Cody Gakpo's shot, but among those who backed off for Dutchman's goal. 6Lewis Hall: Left rocked after conceding stoppage-time penalty following a coming together with Victor Munoz. Had dealt well with Ngumoha and coolly took ball off Isak's toe inside box at one point. 6Lewis Miley: Only one half of pre-season action after recovering from a broken leg, but already such an important player. One particular crossfield ball to send Dedic down the right had supporters standing to applaud. 7Sean Steur: Hard to believe he is only 18. Positive in approach in his first Premier League appearance even if his passes did not always come off. Composed. 7Anthony Elanga: An opening-day miss against Aston Villa last season proved a sliding doors moment, but took his chance today. Coolly picked out the bottom corner for opener. 7Yoane Wissa: Clearly relishing added responsibility from Jaissle in the number 10 position. Aggressive, sharp. Carried ball superbly to set up Willock's goal. 8Harvey Barnes: Got nod ahead of Bazoumana Toure to start. Won a free-kick in a dangerous position with an enterprising run, but not involved enough. 6William Osula: Led breakaway in build-up to Newcastle's first goal and made a sensible decision on when to release Elanga with weighed pass. Battled on with knock before coming off. 7Subs:Joe Willock (on 55, Osula): What an impact. Still had a lot to do for goal, but took it well. 7Jacob Ramsey (on 55, Steur): Brought added energy. 6Aladji Bamba (on 75, Miley): 6Jacob Murphy (on 75, Elanga): 6Fabian Schar (on 90+5, Wissa)Subs not used: Jaouen, Shahar, Toure, WoltemadeAlisson: Arguably could have been in a better position for Anthony Elanga's goal. Could do nothing to keep out Joe Willock's strike. 5Jeremie Frimpong: Poor display at right-back. Did get into some good positions down the flank but lacked that final delivery and picked up a deserved booking for tripping Harvey Barnes just outside the box. 4Jeremy Jacquet: Encouraging start to life in the Premier League. Looks assured on the ball and has great passing range but must be more aware defensively. 6Virgil van Dijk: Perhaps could have engaged earlier with William Osula in the move for the first goal but in truth, it was a wonderful run and finish from Elanga. Will know that Liverpool should not have let Joe Willock shoot for Newcastle's second goal. 6Milos Kerkez: Struggled to keep up with Elanga for the goal and picked up a first-half booking. Did show some threat attackingly but has to improve defensively. 4Dominik Szoboszlai: Was caught out of position for Newcastle's counter and this was an unusually average performance from the Hungarian but he took his penalty in injury-time brilliantly. 7Ryan Gravenberch: Did well to create space initially but it was his pass that lost the ball just before Newcastle's opener. Made his 100th Premier League appearance and got the assist for Cody Gakpo. 6Rio Ngumoha: Tried again down the right flank but it just did not click for the teenager, who scored the winner when Liverpool came here last season. A much tougher experience this time around. Replaced just after the hour mark. 5Florian Wirtz: Was encouraging in phases and unlucky to be denied by a good save from Lukas Hornicek in the first half. Taken off just after the hour mark and will know that he must do more. 6Cody Gakpo: Threatened and came close to scoring before unleashing a brilliant hit for Liverpool's first equaliser. Plenty of talk surrounding his future and this was a timely reminder of his quality. 8Alexander Isak: Unsurprisingly booed whenever he touched the ball on his first return to St James' Park since his £125m move last summer. Looked pumped up but did nothing of note and wasted a brilliant chance at 2-1. Like Wirtz, must do more. 5Subs:Victor Munoz (on 63, Ngumoha): The winger who Liverpool beat Newcastle to signing looked sharp when he came on and won the crucial penalty. 7Alexis Mac Allister (on 63, Wirtz): Came on to bring some stability playing in front of the backline. 5Ronald Araujo (on 70, Jacquet): Did what was asked of him when he came on to partner Van Dijk. 6Lewis Koumas (on 78, Gravenberch): 5Subs not used: Mamardashvili, Endo, Tsimikas, Nyoni, McConnell.