Newcastle United Hosts Liverpool Amidst Alexander Isak Transfer Drama

Alexander Isak might not grace the pitch at St. James` Park on Monday, but he will undoubtedly be a central topic of discussion when Newcastle United faces Liverpool, and for multiple compelling reasons.

The Swedish international currently finds himself in a tense standoff with Newcastle. Their protracted negotiations have become the most dramatic transfer saga of the current window, with only a week left until it closes. Isak has endured all the hallmarks of a difficult transfer situation: training in isolation, reportedly putting his home in England`s northeast up for rent in an attempt to force a move, and recently engaging in a public spat via Instagram Stories, detailing broken promises that prompted a strong response from Newcastle. Isak has been linked with Liverpool, who at one point considered adding him to their revamped attack, but it remains uncertain whether a deal will materialize or if a resolution is on the horizon.

This situation injects an extra layer of intrigue into an already captivating match, which will conclude the second weekend of Premier League action. It begs the question: how would these teams perform with Isak in their ranks?

Newcastle United vs. Liverpool: Match Details and Betting Odds

From Newcastle`s perspective, the answer to this question is quite clear. Isak became the focus of a multi-million dollar transfer saga due to his impressive track record with the Magpies, having scored 62 goals in 109 appearances for the club. His absence was keenly felt in their opening weekend draw against Aston Villa. Despite playing with a numerical advantage for nearly half an hour, Newcastle managed only three shots on target from 16 attempts. Anthony Gordon did his best as the attacking frontman that day, taking seven shots and generating 0.55 expected goals, but it was evident that the English international is a natural winger, not an ideal replacement for Isak in a central role.

The Magpies may be actively seeking Isak`s replacement, but no clear successor has emerged yet, even with new rumors circulating about different players every few days. For now, manager Eddie Howe might be resigned to deploying a similar lineup to the one that faced Villa, featuring Harvey Barnes and new signing Anthony Elanga on the wings.

For Liverpool, the question of Isak`s inclusion borders on being a luxury. The Reds` preseason performances and their dominant 4-2 victory over Bournemouth last Friday indicate that their attack will likely function effectively even without Isak. Newcomers Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike are integrating seamlessly, and Mohamed Salah is expected to maintain his crucial role for at least another season. While adding Isak to the squad certainly wouldn`t hurt, it might prove a valuable move if Arne Slot`s side struggles to achieve squad balance before the transfer window closes on September 1.

Despite Liverpool`s offensive prowess, their defense clearly shows vulnerabilities, having conceded twice in both the Community Shield and against Bournemouth. Their back four in both matches – Jeremie Frimpong, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, and Milos Kerkez – appear somewhat exposed, and defensive reinforcements have yet to arrive. The Reds did sign 18-year-old Giovanni Leoni from Parma, but it`s unlikely he`ll immediately slot into the first team. Furthermore, while linked with Crystal Palace`s Marc Guehi, a deal has yet to be finalized. They may feel confident against an imperfect Newcastle attack, but Liverpool managed only one clean sheet in preseason, and that was against Championship side Stoke City.