Alexander Isak of Liverpool reacts during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on October 04, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)placeholder image
Alexander Isak of Liverpool reacts during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on October 04, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images) | Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Liverpool legend John Barnes claims to have proven Newcastle United supporters wrong following Alexander Isak’s exit.
Newcastle beat the Reds 2-1 at Wembley to lift their first domestic trophy in 70 years before capping off a historic season with Champions League qualification. That created excitement ahead of the summer transfer window, though it didn’t quite go as expected, as one man wreaked havoc with his actions.
Alexander Isak went on strike and despite the Magpies’ best efforts to keep him, he ultimately proved successful in his attempts to force through his £130million British record transfer to Anfield.
Liverpool legend bites back at Newcastle United after Alexander Isak sale
And Barnes has used the Isak situation to hit back at Newcastle fans who ‘had a go’ at him for his comments after the cup final.
Barnes told the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast: “It was always going to be difficult for Eddie Howe. In many respects, I think they were looking for a stopgap for a big-name manager, but he did it so well and won them their first trophy, so they have to stick with him.
“Newcastle fans had a go at me after the cup final because they asked if this was going to be a stepping stone for Newcastle to push on, and I said, Push on to where? They finish 4th or 5th, they’re not going to push on to win the league and win the Champions League.
“They thought that was a bit disrespectful, and then they said, is this now a way for them to keep their players, and I said that if Newcastle lost the cup final, and Isak and other players wanted to stay, they would stay. The fact that they’ve won the cup doesn’t mean they’re going to stay. Then Isak left.”
Newcastle United suffer summer hangover
While Newcastle spent big money on Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa, who is yet to make his debut due to injury, to replace Isak, there has still been a summer hangover on Tyneside.
Things have gone well in the Champions League and Carabao Cup, but the Premier League has been a huge struggle for Eddie Howe’s men, with back-to-back defeats away to West Ham United and Brentford before the international break leaving them just two points above the relegation places.
Going forward, Barnes believes that if a player wants to leave, then Newcastle are best served by letting them go.
Barnes continued: “So, unfortunately, no matter what you create with all these big players and all this money, you’re not going to be able to sustain that. Newcastle can’t spend more than everybody else, so top players will still want to go to Man United or Liverpool, not Newcastle, because they can’t spend twice as much.
“What they have to do is get some good players, and if they want to go then let them go, rather than this negativity of the whole Isak situation, it doesn’t really help Eddie Howe at all. The fact that they buy these players doesn’t mean they’re going to keep them, because they’re going to want to go to other clubs.”
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