Newcastle players - old and new - showing Jaissle grit and spirit
- Published
There were early glimpses of just what Matthias Jaissle's side could be against Liverpool - the intensity, the balls in behind, the grit, spirit and the work-rate.
Few embodied those qualities quite like new arrival Amar Dedic, who only completed his £30m move from Benfica on Tuesday, but what was just as striking was the performances of one or two of last summer's signings following difficult first seasons on Tyneside.
It was Anthony Elanga who opened the scoring with a well-taken finish into the bottom corner, while Yoane Wissa, who set up substitute Joe Willock's second, is clearly relishing added responsibility under Jaissle.
It said it all that Wissa - a forward - won more duels (11) than any other Newcastle United player on Sunday.
"The manager expects me to be a leader and lead the group," the 29-year-old told Sky Sports. "He wants me to be winning balls, making sure everyone is going forward, going for the kill, and sometimes just being calm."
Jaissle saluted Wissa's display, even if he could not help but add he also had the chance to "kill the game" to make it 3-1.
This was Newcastle's Achilles heel last season.
No other side dropped more points (27) from winning positions in 2025-26 and predecessor Eddie Howe was the first to admit in May that "anything can happen" after he was asked if such a habit could seep into this campaign.
Yet the reaction of those Newcastle supporters who stayed behind to applaud after the full-time whistle on Sunday was telling.
"We were there for each other if something went wrong," Jaissle said of his players. "We acted like a unit. In such a short amount of time, this is a top starting point.
"The frustration was there as well, but these are the challenges we have now. With the pre-season and the transition phase, it is normal. Today, someone threw stones in the way - we need to take that out to be successful again."
