Alexander Isak is set to return to St James’ Park on Sunday as Liverpool faces Newcastle. This match marks his first appearance at his former home ground since his departure from Tyneside last summer.
Isak’s move to Merseyside followed a period where he sought to facilitate his exit from Newcastle. His return is anticipated to be a significant event for the home crowd, given the circumstances of his departure.
Anticipated Reception and Club Changes
The atmosphere at St James’ Park is expected to be charged, with fans likely to recall Isak’s actions leading up to his transfer. On 25 August last year, Newcastle lost 3-2 to Liverpool, a match Isak did not participate in, remaining at his home in Northumberland. By 1 September, he had joined Liverpool.
Despite scoring 54 goals in 86 Premier League appearances for Newcastle, including the decisive goal in their 2025 Carabao Cup final triumph against Liverpool at Wembley, Isak’s legacy in the North East is viewed differently by some. His departure involved an Instagram message accusing Newcastle of breaking pledges to sell him, stating, “When promises are broken and trust is lost, the relationship can’t continue.” This occurred on 19 August last year, coinciding with the Professional Football Association awards.
Since Isak’s departure, Newcastle has undergone significant changes. Eddie Howe has been replaced by Matthias Jaissle as head coach. Jaissle, who arrived from Al-Ahli, has overseen four of Newcastle’s six pre-season friendlies, including matches against Bayer Leverkusen and RC Strasbourg. The club also faced Everton, Valencia, Bristol City, and Gateshead in their 2026-27 build-up.
Newcastle’s squad has also seen notable changes. Dan Burn has been named the new captain following the departure of Bruno Guimaraes to Arsenal. Other players who have left include Anthony Gordon (Barcelona), Matt Targett (Hull City), Sandro Tonali (Tottenham Hotspur), and Kieran Trippier (Wolverhampton Wanderers). New arrivals include goalkeepers Ewen Jaouen and Lukas Hornicek, attacker Bazoumana Toure from Hoffenheim, right-back Amar Dedic from Benfica, and midfielders Sean Steur and Aladji Bamba from AFC Ajax and AS Monaco respectively.
Isak’s Journey and Match Context
Isak’s initial season at Liverpool was disrupted by a broken leg sustained in December. With Arne Slot and Mohamed Salah no longer at Liverpool, Isak now aims to impress new head coach Andoni Iraola. His previous coaching under Eddie Howe at Newcastle was credited with refining his game, making him a formidable striker.
The transfer saga involved a visit to Isak’s home in Darras Hall by a delegation from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) for conciliation talks, which ultimately did not lead to a resolution. Five days later, Germany forward Nick Woltemade joined Newcastle from Stuttgart for £69m, and 48 hours after that, Isak became a Liverpool player. This left Newcastle’s dressing room divided, with some players, like Bruno Guimarães, expressing outrage.
Hugo Ekitiké also moved to Anfield for £69m from Eintracht Frankfurt. Newcastle then reinvested £55m of the Isak money on Yoane Wissa from Brentford. However, Wissa’s season was affected by knee trouble, and Woltemade struggled to adapt to tactics, ending a campaign failing to convince in central midfield.
The upcoming match holds historical significance for both clubs. There have been 198 goals scored in Premier League meetings between Newcastle and Liverpool. With two more goals, it would become the third fixture to reach 200 in the competition, following Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur (211) and Arsenal v Tottenham (200). Each of the last three Premier League fixtures between these two teams at St James’ Park has featured a result-altering goal scored after 90 minutes.
Newcastle has not lost its opening league match in any of the last four seasons, winning three and drawing one, since a 4-2 defeat to West Ham United in 2021-22. Jaissle has a record of winning his first game in charge at each of his three previous clubs: FC Liefering, Red Bull Salzburg, and Al-Ahli. His Al-Ahli side was also unbeaten at home in the Saudi Pro League last season, winning the last 13 in a row.
The 4.30pm BST kick-off on Sunday will see Joelinton and Tino Livramento ruled out for Newcastle. Dan Burn and Lewis Miley made their first pre-season appearances last weekend, and their readiness for 90 minutes will be assessed.
Source: theguardian.com