Soccer
Verdict: Away win
Best odds: 1/1
Bookmaker: Olympusbet
One can only wonder what will be going through Alexander Isak’s mind on Monday night, as Newcastle United and Liverpool round off the second weekend of Premier League action with a blockbuster at St James’ Park.
The Magpies were left to rue his absence in their stalemate with Aston Villa, lacking the cutting edge their talisman provides, while the Reds showcased their own attacking depth, with a fresh face stepping up to inspire a 4-2 triumph over Bournemouth.
Newcastle
A seemingly endless transfer saga provides the dramatic backdrop to Monday’s highly-anticipated clash, perfectly timed by the Premier League schedule, as Alexander Isak strives to engineer a move from Newcastle United to title holders Liverpool.
The Swedish striker and his current club have been locked in a public exchange of criticism, with Isak accusing the Magpies of reneging on promises and declaring their relationship unsalvageable, while Newcastle insist no such agreement to sanction a summer departure ever existed.
While repeatedly fielding questions on the subject in the media, Eddie Howe has sought other attacking solutions in Isak’s absence, but his side came up short in their opening draw with Aston Villa, even after Ezri Konsa was dismissed for a last-man challenge. Extending a barren run, Newcastle have now failed to score in three successive league games, their longest drought since February 2020, before the COVID lockdown. Another blank would make it four, though the hosts also chase a more positive sequence: winning their first home game of the season for a fourth straight year under Howe, who has overseen six victories from their last seven St James’ Park outings.
Team News
No reconciliation has occurred between Isak and Newcastle over the past week, and the £150m-valued forward remains exiled while pressing for an Anfield switch.
Beyond the Sweden international, Howe’s only concern is Joe Willock, who is close to recovering from a calf injury sustained in pre-season. Jacob Ramsey may debut following his expensive move from Aston Villa, though Howe could integrate him gradually, keeping Anthony Elanga, Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes in contention up front.
Liverpool
Liverpool coped just fine without Alexander Isak in their 2025/26 Premier League opener, though their defensive lapses almost allowed Bournemouth to spring a surprise, before Arne Slot’s men ultimately prevailed in a six-goal thriller.
Debutant Hugo Ekitike struck once and set up another for Cody Gakpo, while Antoine Semenyo netted twice shortly after reporting alleged racist abuse from a supporter, but Federico Chiesa’s chaotic volley and Mohamed Salah’s trademark first-day strike ultimately killed off the Cherries’ resistance.
A frantic contest at Anfield on August 15 highlighted Liverpool’s frailties at the back, but also their attacking sharpness, as they snapped a four-match winless league run and responded to their deflating Community Shield loss against Crystal Palace. Yet defensive worries linger: counting that defeat to the Eagles, Liverpool have just one clean sheet from their last 10 competitive outings, a statistic softened slightly by their scoring streak.
Should the Reds find the net at St James’ Park, they will equal their longest ever top-flight run of 36 consecutive scoring games, a mark first set between 2019 and 2020. While Newcastle edged last season’s Carabao Cup final, the Magpies have failed to overcome the reigning champions in their last 17 league encounters.
Team News
Jeremie Frimpong will miss out until after the international break with a hamstring problem, Conor Bradley is only just back in full training, and Joe Gomez’s workload is still being closely managed. Arne Slot mentioned a few stop-gap options in his pre-match briefing, including Dominik Szoboszlai, who may fill in at right-back given Ryan Gravenberch’s return from suspension.
Having struck on opening weekend, Salah now looks to extend a dazzling record against Newcastle: 10 goals and eight assists in the league, including assists in each of his last six appearances versus the Magpies.
Conclusion
Liverpool’s defensive issues remain a concern, but without Isak, Newcastle hardly look capable of exploiting them, particularly after last weekend’s wasteful showing in front of goal.
Howe’s side could cause problems on the break with sharper finishing, yet Liverpool’s full-strength attack carries enough firepower to strike back even more effectively and seal a second successive win on Monday.
Verdict: Away win
Best odds: 1/1
Bookmaker: Olympusbet
Read MoreVeselin Trajkovic