Lukas Hornicek made a flying save to keep out Florian Wirtz's effort in the first half, but it was Newcastle's Yoane Wissa who stole the show with a 7 out of 10 performance, according to BBC Sport's player ratings.
Wissa clearly relished the added responsibility from new manager Matthias Jaissle in the number 10 position, carrying the ball superbly to set up Willock's goal. His aggressive and sharp play made him a standout player on the day. Meanwhile, Alexander Isak struggled to make an impact, receiving boos from the St James' Park crowd on his first return since his £125m move last summer.
Isak's struggles continued as he wasted a brilliant chance at 2-1, leaving fans wondering if he will be able to justify his hefty transfer fee. The £125m signing had been expected to make a big impact, but so far, he has failed to deliver.
On the other hand, Liverpool's Cody Gakpo continued to show his quality, threatening and coming close to scoring before unleashing a brilliant hit for Liverpool's first equaliser. His performance was a timely reminder of his ability, which has been the subject of much speculation in recent weeks.
The match itself was a dramatic 2-2 draw, with Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai scoring a 99th-minute penalty equaliser to deny Newcastle's new manager, Matthias Jaissle, victory in his first Premier League game in charge.
The draw was a disappointing result for Newcastle, who had been hoping for a win to boost their Premier League campaign. However, the performance of their players, particularly Wissa, will give fans hope for the future.
In other news, Liverpool's new signing, Amar Dedic, made a promising debut, earning a 7 out of 10 rating for his crucial intervention in build-up to goal. The £30m signing from Benfica showed promise in his first outing for the club.
The match also saw the return of Liverpool's youngster, Sean Steur, who made a positive impact in his first Premier League appearance. His composed and positive approach to the game earned him a 7 out of 10 rating.
The draw was a result of a thrilling match, with both teams creating chances and playing some excellent football. The match will be remembered for the dramatic 99th-minute penalty equaliser by Szoboszlai, which denied Newcastle the win.
The match will have significant implications for both teams in the Premier League, with Liverpool looking to build on their performance and Newcastle looking to bounce back from the disappointment of a draw.
Source: BBC Sports