Alan Shearer backs Newcastle reset but urges patience after Liverpool draw

Alan Shearer believes Newcastle United’s major summer overhaul was necessary after last season’s disappointing campaign, but has warned supporters that patience will be required as Matthias Jaissle rebuilds the team.

Newcastle opened their Premier League season with an encouraging 2-2 draw against Liverpool at St James’ Park, narrowly missing out on victory after Dominik Szoboszlai converted a stoppage-time penalty.

Despite the late disappointment, Shearer was impressed by the energy, commitment and intensity shown by a youthful Newcastle side featuring several summer arrivals.

The summer brought significant change at St James’ Park, with Newcastle moving on several established players after finishing 12th in the Premier League last season.

Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Anthony Gordon were among the high-profile departures, and Shearer believes their exits must be viewed in the context of Newcastle's struggles during the previous campaign.

“As much as we’re getting angry about Newcastle selling, those players that Newcastle sold didn’t have the best season last season,” Shearer told The Rest is Football podcast.

“Newcastle finished twelfth. So Gordon didn’t have a good season, Tonali didn’t have a good season, Bruno Guimaraes, he was the captain, wasn’t brilliant last season.”

Shearer believes the substantial fees received gave Newcastle an opportunity to reshape the squad rather than persist with a group that had underperformed.

“There had to be a reset at Newcastle. There had to be,” he added.

New head coach Jaissle demonstrated the extent of that reset with his first Premier League starting XI.

Summer signings Lukas Hornicek, Amir Dedic and Sean Steur all started against Liverpool, while Ewen Jaouen, Bazoumana Toure and Aladji Bamba were included among the substitutes.

Bamba was the only one of that trio to feature, making a late appearance.

Newcastle's youthful side nevertheless produced an energetic display and twice took the lead through Anthony Elanga and Joe Willock, either side of Cody Gakpo's equaliser.

Liverpool eventually rescued a point when Lewis Hall was adjudged to have fouled Victor Munoz, allowing Szoboszlai to convert the resulting penalty.

Shearer was encouraged enough by Newcastle's performance to say he would accept the same level of effort every week.

“I’ll take the effort, I’ll take the commitment, the passion, the honesty,” the former Newcastle captain said.

However, he also cautioned against expecting the rebuilt squad to immediately produce consistent results.

“As much as positive as it was yesterday, I still think we’re going to have to have patience this season with Newcastle.”

With a new manager, a younger squad and several major departures to absorb, Shearer believes Newcastle's transformation will require time.

Newcastle will look to build on the positive aspects of their opening performance while Jaissle continues integrating the club's summer signings.

Shearer's message is that expectations must reflect the scale of the transformation. The Liverpool display provided encouraging signs, but Newcastle's new-look squad may need time before the summer reset translates into consistent Premier League results.