Liverpool predicted line-up vs. Manchester City: Two changes expected as Isak returns to trainingplaceholder image
Liverpool predicted line-up vs. Manchester City: Two changes expected as Isak returns to training | Getty Images
Alexander Isak has struggled at Liverpool since leaving Newcastle United in the summer.
John Barnes has urged Newcastle United supporters to focus on their own club rather than Alexander Isak.
While the Magpies have struggled in the Premier League this season, one area of solace for supporters has been Isak’s demise at Liverpool. As it stands, the Swede has just one Carabao Cup goal from eight games to justify his £130million transfer.
He has missed Liverpool’s last five games due to a groin injury but was an unused substitute for their 3-1 defeat to Manchester City on Sunday. Both the Reds and Newcastle appear to be suffering from Isak’s actions over the summer.
‘Support the club’ - John Barnes
Former Liverpool star Barnes - who also played for the Magpies in the late 1990s - has told Toon supporters to stop hating on the striker. He said: “Isak's start at Liverpool has a lot to do with the fact that he didn't have a pre-season. It's not as if Isak is not a good player. I'm sure they (Newcastle) would much rather he had stayed because Newcastle aren't doing great.
“You can see where they are. So I don't think they can look and say, ‘Well, we're glad we got rid of Isak because look what he's doing now’. He would have been still playing well for Newcastle and Isak will do well for Liverpool. It's not a short-term situation whereby Newcastle have been proven right to let him go or the other way around.
“I'm hoping for them (Newcastle) to do well because I like Eddie Howe and I like Newcastle. I played for them. So we have to forget about Isak at Newcastle. From a Newcastle perspective, you have to look forward and say, let's get behind the team now and not concentrate too much on hating Isak. Players come, players go. Support the club.”
Eddie Howe on strained Alexander Isak relationship
Speaking to reporters in September, Howe admitted that his relationship with Isak became strained once he went on strike. The Toon boss said: "Alex and I always enjoyed a great relationship," he said. "I loved working with him. I hope he enjoyed working with us.
"It was mutually beneficial. We helped him become the player he in part is today and he helped us as a team achieve some unbelievable milestones and was part of a very successful team.
"The moment he went on strike our relationship did change and that was probably a turning point in our relationship."
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‘Doesn’t benefit anyone’ - Alexander Isak
On international duty shortly after his move, Swedish media have pressed Isak on the Newcastle drama. The 26-year-old is preferring to move on - insisting that dragging up the saga does not benefit either party.
"It's nothing I want to dwell on now,” Isak said, as quoted by ESPN. “It doesn't benefit anyone, neither me nor Newcastle so let it be. I'm working hard to push myself and play my game. Things have been a bit tougher for us (Liverpool). I believe that as the team improves and things start to flow better, it will also go better for me.”
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