St. James` Park is set to ignite with fierce rivalry as Newcastle United prepares to host Liverpool for a highly anticipated Premier League fixture on Monday, August 25, 2025. The match is scheduled to kick off at 3 p.m. ET.
Tensions between the two clubs have been heightened following reports that Liverpool made a low offer for Newcastle`s star striker, Alexander Isak. While Newcastle`s board promptly rejected the bid, the situation escalated dramatically as Isak subsequently went on strike, accusing the club of `breaking promises.` The Swedish international has not featured in Newcastle`s lineup this season and will be absent from this crucial game. This off-field drama has intensified animosity, with supporters of both teams engaging in heated exchanges across social media platforms, creating a palpable sense of hostility.
All this built-up tension is expected to culminate on the pitch at St. James` Park. An electric atmosphere is anticipated inside the stadium, promising an intense encounter likely to feature numerous fiercely contested challenges.
Newcastle`s Challenging Summer
The summer initially promised excitement for Newcastle supporters. The team had celebrated winning the EFL Cup, their first major trophy since 1969, and achieved the significant milestone of qualifying for the Champions League.
However, optimism soon gave way to considerable disappointment. The club failed to secure several key transfer targets: Liam Delap and João Pedro opted for Chelsea, Hugo Ekitiké chose to move to Liverpool, and James Trafford joined Manchester City instead of Newcastle. Further setbacks occurred when Slovenian striker Benjamin Seško also chose Manchester United over the Magpies. This was a particularly significant blow, especially given Manchester United`s 15th-place finish last season and their absence from European competition this year.
The inability to sign Delap, Pedro, Ekitiké, and Seško means Newcastle begins the season without a clear primary striker. Veteran Callum Wilson departed the club this summer, and Isak has refused to play, citing a complete `loss of trust.` Isak was a sensation last season, scoring 23 goals in 34 games, making Liverpool`s keen interest entirely understandable. This regrettable saga has left Newcastle with a major strategic conundrum.
Retaining a player who is determined to leave, even one under contract until 2028, proves exceptionally difficult and risks disrupting overall team morale. Newcastle has subsequently struggled significantly to find suitable replacements, realistically needing two strikers to fill the void left by Isak and Wilson. However, elite forwards appear reluctant to make the move to Tyneside. Winger Anthony Gordon was deployed as a makeshift striker in the opening 0-0 draw against Aston Villa, a match that starkly highlighted Newcastle`s attacking shortcomings.
Liverpool`s Formidable Attack
In stark contrast, Liverpool faces no such attacking woes. Star forward Mohamed Salah secured a new, lucrative contract in April and went on to conclude last season as the Premier League`s top scorer with an impressive 29 goals.
While Luis Díaz moved to Bayern Munich, the Reds significantly bolstered their attacking options by signing Ekitiké and German superstar Florian Wirtz. The Premier League champions demonstrated potent attacking prowess in their commanding 4-2 opening weekend victory against Bournemouth. However, their defense appeared somewhat vulnerable, and it remains to be seen if Newcastle, despite their own attacking difficulties, can exploit this weakness.
Ekitiké has enjoyed an excellent start to his Liverpool tenure, finding the net in both the Community Shield and the dominant 4-2 win over Bournemouth. While the squad is still integrating Wirtz, the early indications of their combined potential are overwhelmingly positive.
Historical Context and Match Outlook
Last season, these two teams delivered a thrilling 3-3 draw at St. James` Park, with Isak scoring the opening goal. Liverpool later secured a comfortable 2-0 victory at Anfield. Newcastle, however, gained a surprising measure of revenge with a shock 2-1 victory over Liverpool in the EFL Cup final, a significant achievement for the club.
Despite that cup final upset, Liverpool has maintained an impressive unbeaten league record against Newcastle since 2015, showcasing their consistent dominance in league encounters. Monday`s highly anticipated match is expected to feature numerous robust, bone-crunching challenges and could potentially see many yellow cards issued. However, Liverpool`s overall quality and depth should ultimately prove decisive in securing a favorable result in this intense fixture.
