‘Isak’s actions don’t sit right with me’
Alan Shearer, Newcastle legend, speaking to Betfair:
I totally get it (Newcastle fans’ anger toward Alexander Isak), and I totally understand it. There’s a lot of anger, there’s a lot of frustration, because we all come and go, fans come and go, players come and go, but the one constant that doesn’t is the football club. That’s far more important than anyone, any individual, any player has ever been and ever will be.
It’s their football club, it’s their community, it’s what they do, it’s what they love, it’s what they pay their money for, for their shirts. So, understandably, there’s a lot of anger around, and I totally get that when someone says they don’t want to play for their club. It would happen at any other football club, not just Newcastle. It’s happened before and it’ll happen again, and those fans would feel exactly the same.
Now, I understand the frustration from the Liverpool fans’ point of view, but they would feel exactly the same if a player was doing that. And it doesn’t sit right with me, I don’t like it. I don’t like what Wissa’s doing at Brentford, even if Newcastle were to sign him.
Should Isak stay or go?
‘Alexa, play Should I Stay or Should I Go by The Clash.’
I reckon that is a request Alexander Isak may have asked a fair few times this season. I mean, it’s not exactly his choice, but still.
Right now, he is sitting at home, probably tussling with the idea of who to support. Does he want his current employers to win, or the team that he so desperately wants to join?
In just over a week’s time, his future will become clearer.
There are seven days until the transfer window shuts, and by September 2, we will know where Isak will play his football for the next few months.
But where will it be? Newcastle or Liverpool?
‘Big call from Slot’
As I said in my last post, a big call from Arne Slot today with either Dominik Szoboszlai or Curtis Jones at right back given the injury to Jeremie Frimpong which was revealed by Daily Mail Sport last week.
Joe Gomez and Conor Bradley are on the bench but neither are deemed fit enough to start. It sounds like Szoboszlai will be the man to start at right back as he did at times in pre-season but this is a big test for him. No Alexis Mac Allister tonight due to personal reasons.
Liverpool Team News – Gravenberch RETURNS
An interesting line-up, to say the least.
Ryan Gravenberch returns to the fray for Liverpool, sitting in front of the back four, but who will be alongside him remains unclear.
Curtis Jones comes in for Alexis Mac Allister, who is out for personal reasons, but we don’t quite know whether he will be in midfield or at right-back.
Conor Bradley is on the bench, as is Joe Gomez, but we will have to wait and see who starts in their position from the off.
Newcastle Team News – Gordon up TOP
Of course, there is no Alexander Isak, as expected.
That means that Anthony Gordon remains up top for Newcastle, with Anthony Elanga and Harvey Barnes sitting either side of him.
I mean, that is one hell of a speedy attack.
Summer signing Malick Thiaw remains on the bench as Eddie Howe sticks with the same side that drew away at Aston Villa on the eopening weekend.
Ready for battle
Jeez, I can’t contain my excitement.
Honestly, I have been waiting for this match all weekend, if not longer, and it’s now just over 75 minutes away.
Both teams have now arrived at St. James’ Park, and the team news will be out in just a few minutes.
It’s going to be interesting to see how they both line up.
Why Isak going on strike can HELP Newcastle
Daily Mail Sport has been the hub of all the Alexander Isak news this summer.
My colleague Craig Hope exclusively broke the news that Alexander Isak wanted out at the back end of July, and has been on top of all the updates ever since.
If you want to know the inside info, Craig is your man!
His latest piece delves into why the Isak saga won’t just help Newcastle tonight, but in the long run. Sounds interesting, right? Well, go and have a read of it.
Unlock more from Craig Hope inside the Newcastle camp with a DailyMail+ subscription – brilliant exclusives, in-depth insight, analysis and more
‘Slot won’t be fazed’
You’re all thinking about the atmosphere and the Alexander Isak storylines, right? Well yes, so am I – but Arne Slot and his men are not fazed by that and they are here to win a football match.
If they do, it will be an almighty statement to send to the rest of the league ahead of an early title tussle with Arsenal next Sunday. Some weird picks in the XI, which will be out soon…
The Isak saga
Right then, let’s talk about what has actually happened.
I know the majority of you will know, but nevertheless, it’s my job to unpick what has happened in this saga.
In a nutshell, Alexander Isak expressed his desire to explore new opportunities to Newcastle at the back end of last season, reiterating that desire during the transfer window. He was told that he was not for sale, and then all hell broke loose.
Liverpool tabled a £110m bid for Isak after what they perceived as encouragement, with Isak wanting to make the switch to Anfield. It was rejected swiftly, and the Reds have since not returned with another bid.
Then Isak threw his toys out of the pram.
He didn’t travel on their pre-season tour, has since been exiled from the squad, and is now training on his own while refusing to ever play for Newcastle again. Yeah, it’s pretty bad.
Things then got worse last week when Isak released a statement on social media suggesting that Newcastle had broken his trust.
‘When promises are broken and trust is lost, the relationship can’t continue,’ he said.
Newcastle responded publicly, reiterating that he is not for sale, and that’s where we are at. Isak is in exile, but the Magpies want to reintergrate him, while Liverpool are biding their time and waiting to see if a deal is possible.
It’s all one big huge mess, to be honest.
Geordies ready for war
If I were a Liverpool fan tonight, I would be worried… very worried.
Never in my life have I seen a build-up to a game like this one. The war of words between Geordies and Scousers has been quite something.
The two sets of fanbases have always had respect for each other, which only grew after the Carabao Cup final in March. The way Liverpool supporters graciously accepted defeat that day, congratulating many Geordies, only saw them go up in the Newcastle faithful’s estimations.
Well, that respect seems to have diminished now due to the Alexander Isak saga, most certainly amongst supporters online. It may not be quite the same for match-going fans, but the relationship has certainly changed nonetheless.
I can’t recall the number of times I have seen ‘Get into them, Newcastle’ written on my X timeline; there have been that many.
The saga has clearly lit a fire in the belly of supporters, which we will hear through the noise they make. And it will undoubtedly have had the same effect on the players.
To say this is going to be tasty is an understatement.
Tasty tussle on Tyneside
Are you ready for fireworks?
By the time the clock strikes 8pm tonight, St James’ Park will very much resemble your local hill on Bonfire night. The place is going to be a fiery furnace when both Bruno Guimaraes and Virgil van Dijk lead both Liverpool and Newcastle onto the pitch.
Honestly, I’m worried for my ears. The noise that is going to be generated ahead of kick-off, and thereafter, will most likely be enough to register on the Richter scale.
We all know the reason why, don’t we? Well, if you don’t, then you’re either not a football fan or have been living in a cave like you belong in the Stone Age.
A certain Magpies striker throwing a tantrum is what makes this match so highly anticipated.
Now, Newcastle and Liverpool always have feisty affairs. They have two of the most passionate fanbases in the Premier League, and some of the best players, too, which makes for great watches. However, this will be another level.
The Alexander Isak transfer saga that has dominated the summer window has thrown bucketloads of flavour into this contest. It’s now mouthwatering.
The not-so-nice emotions that Newcastle feel towards Isak are about to be unleashed on the Premier League champions, and it’s going to be interesting to see how they deal with what will be a cauldron of hatred.
I, for one, can’t wait for this mammoth match. Let’s get cracking.
