Steve Nicol took umbrage with one post-match comment on the stoppage-time penalty decision in Liverpool’s 2-2 draw against Newcastle on Sunday.
The Reds were awarded a spot kick deep into added time when Lewis Hall clashed into Victor Munoz inside the box, and Dominik Szoboszlai duly converted to ensure a share of the spoils at St James’ Park.
Gary Neville said on co-commentary for Sky Sports that it was the right decision, insisting that the Magpies left-back fouled the Spanish winger and didn’t get any of the ball, but the home side’s head coach Matthias Jaissle argued that the awarding of the penalty was ‘really soft‘.
"It was a really soft one"
Newcastle head coach Matthias Jaissle on conceding a late penalty against Liverpool 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/hnN86ijqv4
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 23, 2026
Nicol slams Jaissle comments as ‘nonsense’
That comment from the 38-year-old annoyed Nicol, who retorted that there’s no grey area when it comes to such penalty decisions.
The ex-Liverpool defender said on ESPN FC: “What does that mean? It’s either a foul or it’s not a foul. If it’s a foul, it’s a penalty and it’s not soft. You can’t have this ‘soft’ nonsense. If you’re gonna come out with that…I’m sorry, I don’t get it.
“If that was in the other penalty box, I’d be saying the exact same thing. I don’t get where the debate is, because it’s clear as day for me.”
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Penalty decision was correct, but Liverpool still got out of jail
The contact from Hall on Munoz mightn’t have been especially forceful, and some may argue that the winger went to ground easily, but the Liverpool winger was definitely clipped by the knee of the Newcastle left-back, who got nowhere near the ball.
It was tough on the Magpies to see two points slip away from them so late in the game, but replays show that Stuart Attwell made the right decision, and the officials on VAR felt no need to intervene.
From a Reds perspective, it’s one of those where we’ll take the point – especially with the equaliser coming in the 99th minute – but there’s no denying that a vast improvement is needed in upcoming games if we’re to challenge for the Champions League places this season.
Many of the familiar failings from last term are still present, most notably a lack of security at the base of midfield, a flaw that Jamie Carragher bemoaned for Anthony Elanga’s early goal at St James’ Park.
While Jaissle will harbour regrets over the penalty, his opposite number Andoni Iraola would’ve been stewing over the myriad issues in his team which need addressing on his way back from Tyneside last night.
I keep saying it, we look so porous in that midfield and Liverpool need a proper defensive midfielder. When we had someone like Fabinho in that midfield, we looked solid in every area, now it is so glaring for us to see, why is it so difficult for Liverpool to sign a number? Liverpool fans are not happy about this at all
I would be more concerned with what Iraola said after the game. We don’t have any problems with players in midfield? New signings in midfield won’t fix the problem. Players have to adapt to his playing style.
If you analyse last season, the number of times we got picked off on the counter and yet again yesterday shows with absolute certainty that our midfield isn’t good enough without the ball.
The first goal the midfield was completely empty, the second goal we had three players around the Newcastle player and not one tackle was made.
If any manager can’t see that we need a midfielder who is physically strong and can tackle then he shouldn’t be at Liverpool football club.
It’s why slot got sacked, the midfield is terrible.
Then there’s the full backs. Frimpong and Kirkez are the worst full backs we’ve ever had at Liverpool.
The first goal Kirkez had a ten yards start on osula, he then got caught and passed and osula scored a goal that a Sunday league team would defend better.
Every weakness that got slot sacked last season has been ignored. Full backs, no defensive midfielder, and wirtz and Isak who do nothing.
If Iraola was any kind of manager he would be asking Richard Hughes for a defensive midfielder.
Not saying there’s no problem with our midfield.
We couldn’t beat a Newcastle team that’s never been in the premier league and they’ve sold all their best players.
Everyone at Liverpool football club has their heads up thier arse as we continue where we left off last season. Including Iraola.
A football club going nowhere that won’t face up to the defensive flaws and bad signings from last summer, that are not good enough.
Iraola won’t last the season, he’s as deluded as slot was.
Indeed same old problems. Not sure why we have underperforming weak players in the team. During the high press where is the risk assessment for a counter Attack, very reason Slot sacked for . Frimpong needs to be honest with himself that for all his high energy to get into the opposition half he then plays as a extra defender for the opposition by giving the ball away. Kerkez is struggling and needs help.
As for the front no creativity from our striker.
Premier league is very physical. Manager needs to mitigate that. Do your risk assessment for high press otherwise the team will struggle and people will be sacked .
All managers, well most managers, say those kind of things to cover for their bosses. I’d give Iraola a bit more time. However you’re right about the state of our defence, it’s a shambles and the first goal is a cast iron example of that. However Iraola must surely see the gaping need for a top defensive midfielder in our setup, if he doesn’t, then I worry.
Ihave been banging on here ‘ad nauseum’…about THE YOU CAN DRIVE A SEMI TRAILOR DOWN LFC’s midfield – and what did I get from the LFC banner sites reporting…I got HOW LFC MANAGEMENT HAVE DECIDED WE DO NOT NEED A TRUE NUMBER 6!….ell you had the same open freeway down LFC’s middle…So here is the wash up – yes it was similar to last seasons performances! There are a couple of questions…Why was Nyoni not played in the …oh yeah we don’t need a holding 6 in the middle…I am at a loss as to if we played twi Szoboslai and Gravenberch or a 3 Szoboslai Wirtz Gravenberch…and up front we had Gapko Isak and Ngumoha…now player fr player…I thought Kerkez had an ok game (not his fault the way Elanga sped past him! Where was VVD in cover?)…VVD just an ok game…Jacquet I thought played well…Frimpong (must be sold/hopeless)…whatever the middle was 2 or 3 it was hopelessly porous – indeed I thought Szobo had an uncharacteristically poor game – Gravy made a couple of breaks straight down te middle, the first one a clear path to goal opened up for him.at which point he stopped cold like a stunned mullet instead of continuing and shooting – then lost the ball which led to the Elanga brreak/goal. Wirtz – well he is playing like an also ran not a 100 mil pound plus man and Iraola needs to fire a rocket up his backside…Gapko scored a good goa;/but again did not take on anybody down the side but continued to move onto his rght food always predictably moving inside – but that just crowds Isak – Isak had one clear open goal chance that he could easily converted if at his lethal best/but skyed over the bar/he is not getting the kind of service he needs Ngumoha on the right wing was hopeless as evidenced by the improvement once Munoz came on…also Aruajo tightened things up when he came on. Iraola must have by now realised Frimpong id not able to compete at EPL level – who he plays there I do not know…as far as the middle well I am giving a run to McConnell and Nyoni – who you leave out as a result I leave to Iraola but the way Szobo played in this game was very concerning…I do not know what the game plan was – but whatever it was did not happen positively at anytime during the game…indeed Newcastle played far better and deserved to win the game – they were fitter/faster to all plays/more physical and aggressive/won nearly all the second balls – we seemed to be very unfit/sluggish and slow at most times until the changes were mad for the two players who came on who seemed better. YNWA.