Arne Slot doesn’t have a lot to say about wantaway Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, the subject of a failed bid to bring him to Liverpool.
The defending champions are away to the Magpies for a battle at St James’ Park that is usually heated, and is expected to be even more explosive given the backdrop of the Sweden striker’s desire to swap Tyneside for Merseyside.
It is a fixture characterised by fiery passion and explosive emotion, which will be made even more dramatic by the antics of Isak, 25, who missed preseason and is currently training away from his teammates.
He was not in the squad that played to a goalless draw with Aston Villa last week, as the poster boy remains steadfast in his standoff with the club he recently led to cup glory.
The last time the two teams met at Tyneside, they produced a seesaw six-goal thriller that ended in a three-all tie. Eddie Howe’s men emerged victorious when the Toon Army’s 2-1 Carabao Cup final win at Wembley in March gave the Geordies the first piece of silverware to savour, ending a 70-year drought for a major domestic trophy.
On the league front, however, Howe’s charges have failed to beat the Reds since 2015. Their attempt tomorrow night to alter that will be undermined by the absence of Isak, whose sublime strike sealed the Carabao Cup deal.
Though contracted to Newcastle until 2028, Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s homeboy is intent on departing, with Liverpool his desired destination. Newcastle dismissed Liverpool’s £110m (R2.5bn) bid for their prized possession, who they value at £150m.
Slot would not be drawn to discuss Isak when the media pressed for his opinion on the situation. “What I can tell you is not a lot. It would be much nicer to talk about the players that we have… I am very, very happy with the squad we have. Two per position is ideal but I prefer less than more because you have to disappoint so many players every single time,” said the Dutchman.
I am really happy with the squad, but if we think we can improve in a certain position, and there is a player available that can really make us better ... this club has always shown they will bring these players in but only if they are everything we want.
“I am really happy with the squad, but if we think we can improve in a certain position, and there is a player available that can really make us better ... this club has always shown they will bring these players in but only if they are everything we want.”
Liverpool have sold Darwin Nunez, who rose from the bench to rifle a sensational brace for a 10-man Liverpool after Virgil van Dijk was sent off for fouling Isak. They’ve brought in Hugo Ekitike, who scored his first goal for his new club at the Kop End in the 4-2 opening beating of Bournemouth.
With Ibrahim Konate yet to be tied down on a new contract, as the 26-year-old Frenchman seeks improved wages, Slot has reinforced the rearguard with the addition of 19-year-old Italian centre-back Giovanni Leoni from Parma.
Interest remains in another central defender, Marc Guehi of Crystal Palace, whom sporting director Richard Hughes may want to nail down before the September 1 transfer window deadline.
Howe’s determination to hold on to Isak is motivated by a string of rejections by several attacking options they expressed interest in, who opted to go elsewhere. All of Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo were attracted by the appeal of Manchester United. Joao Pedro and Liam Delap chose Chelsea.
“It’s a lose-lose situation. I don’t think we can come out of this winning in any situation,” said Howe. “I have no doubt about how the players will feel... Alex is a fantastic player, he’s a good person, a good character and a good lad. If Alex wanted to come back and play for us, the players would welcome him. A 100%, I want to see him back in a Newcastle shirt.”
Without their most lethal weapon, Howe will look at the trio of Anthony Gordon, Harvey Barnes and new boy Anthony Elanga to provide the offensive threat. Ekitike will be the man to watch as part of the front three that includes Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah, who were also on target along Federico Chiesa against Bournemouth.
The defence of Fabian Schar, Kieran Reippier, Dan Burn and Tino Livramento needs to be an impregnable fortress to keep them at bay.
Salah, who this week collected the Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year crown for an unprecedented third time, found the net in that six-goal extravaganza. The Egyptian will be looking to add another against a Newcastle that failed to score at the same venue despite Villa losing Ezri Konsa to a red card.
Ryan Gravenberch, who served suspension against Bournemouth, is back in contention in tandem with Alexis McAllister for a likely confrontation with the pairing of Joelinton and Bruno Guimares.
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