Signs that Jaissle's Newcastle are not to be written off

Newcastle United manager Matthias Jaissle urged his players to dream big, even after a dramatic 2-2 draw against Liverpool that saw them concede a late equalizer from the penalty spot. The team had taken a 2-1 lead, but a foul inside the box in stoppage time allowed Dominik Szoboszlai to level the score.

Despite the late setback, Jaissle expressed immense pride in his team's performance over the full 90 minutes. "I told them that I'm really proud of what I saw over the 90 minutes. This is a really top starting point," he stated in his post-match press conference, though he alluded to potentially controversial remarks he could have made about the penalty decision.

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I want people to dream about their football club. They should. We should all be dreamers at heart. Some people are the opposite and say, 'We can't do that'. But when you ask them why, they can't give a reason. Well, I say, 'Why not?'

The match itself was steeped in history and emotion, echoing the thrilling encounters of the past between these two clubs. A capacity crowd at St James' Park was treated to a pre-game spectacle, including a massive fan display by Wor Flags and acknowledgments of club legend Kevin Keegan, whose family and former players were in attendance. The atmosphere was electric, with fans urged to "Sing your hearts out for the lads" in a final push.

Newcastle's current squad features several young signings, with an average age of 24, and many new to the Premier League. Combined with Jaissle's own lack of experience in the English top flight, some pundits predicted a difficult season. However, the draw against Liverpool, a team that has recently dominated Newcastle, suggests the team might defy expectations. Injured captain Dan Burn also believes the team is poised to perform well.

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I cannot repeat everything because I could get in trouble and may need to pay some fines. But, overall, I told them that I'm really proud of what I saw over the 90 minutes. This is a really top starting point.