For Liverpool, a trip to Newcastle United is always one of the most difficult tests of the year. You can be sure that the Geordies, who are a fervent football fan base, will be ready for the Premier League champions when they play them at St. James’ Park in the first home game of the new season.
However, when you consider the current circumstances surrounding Alexander Isak, there is a genuine chance for fireworks on Monday, so Liverpool will need to make an impression. It’s a preliminary assessment of their cognitive abilities and title qualifications.
Consider the Reds’ last two trips there: in December, they weren’t playing at their best, but they would have won 3-2 if it weren’t for a last-minute mistake by the goalie, and the previous season, Darwin Nunez’s late double stole the points for the 10 men after Virgil van Dijk was sent off.
Therefore, Monday’s match will be another challenging task, and Liverpool cannot crumble under the pressure. Given the wantaway Isak and his readiness to push for the move to Anfield, it is clear what the news agenda will be in the lead-up to it.
Liverpool’s star striker has previously expressed a desire to leave in a similar situation. Nobody was more devastated than Kevin Keegan’s 1997 departure, and more recently, there have been players who have upset the balance in an effort to leave Anfield.
When it comes to Isak, Liverpool supporters are all too familiar with what their Newcastle counterparts are going through right now because Luis Suarez, Javier Mascherano, and Fernando Torres have all caused trouble to get their move.
However, when it comes to Liverpool, no player has ever been greater than the team, and they have consistently succeeded even after their top players have left. ‘Thanks for your service, now close the door behind you on the way out’ has been the norm.
However, the idea of a £150 million bid is absurd. This isn’t Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi. Even though Isak is a top striker, that kind of price for a player who has gone on strike and obviously wants to leave and has even gone on strike to get it over the line I find incredible.
Even Newcastle’s Saudi owners must acknowledge that it might be best to let him go and reinvest the money, even though the situation has not been handled well up there.