Alexander Isak has issued a statement thanking Liverpool fans for their immense support after being subjected to abuse from Newcastle supporters during his return to St. James' Park
Alexander Isak returned to Newcastle on Sunday
Alexander Isak returned to Newcastle on Sunday(Image: Getty Images)
Alexander Isak has expressed his gratitude to Liverpool supporters following the hostile reception he endured at Newcastle over the weekend.
Isak was making his maiden return to St James' Park on Sunday since his switch to the Reds last September. The Sweden international faced a barrage of boos as he stepped off the team coach and entered the ground, with every touch met by jeers throughout the match alongside numerous explicit chants from the Toon Army.
The home crowd continued their targeting of the forward as he departed the pitch following the final whistle and subsequently when he boarded the team coach for the journey back to Merseyside.
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In stark contrast, Isak received a rapturous reception from the away supporters after the match, having completed the full 90 minutes for the first time in his Liverpool career.
Taking to social media, Isak, 26, wrote: "Season kicked off. Thank you for the immense support Reds. We go on to the next #ynwa."
Newcastle took the lead on Sunday when Anthony Elanga found the net with just five minutes on the clock.
Isak failed to score against his former club
Isak failed to score against his former club(Image: Getty Images)
Early in the second half, Cody Gakpo brought Liverpool back on level terms with a superb long-range strike into the bottom corner. But Newcastle immediately regained the lead through substitute Joe Willock's effort from the edge of the box.
The Reds managed to salvage a point in the final minute of the game, when Lewis Hall fouled new signing Victor Munoz in the box. Dominik Szoboszlai stepped up to convert the penalty.
Reds boss Andoni Iraola told the BBC at full-time: "It's a strange feeling. Not the result we wanted, but it's true, the way we scored the goal in the end, it tastes better. Still, we would have definitely preferred the win.
"We started the game the worst way we knew. Newcastle away, first game of the season, the atmosphere, they have very fast players, and we concede the goal. They punished us and we had to go against the result.
"But we didn't give up in any moment. The energy of the players, especially the substitutes, it was a good recovery.
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"Once you concede the first goal, you need the game to go fast. You need things to happen when you're losing. We could control the game in the second half. We had better possession around their box.
"When we scored, it looked like we were the team going to turn the game, but then they scored again."
Liverpool resumes its Premier League campaign on Saturday when it welcomes Nottingham Forest for new head coach Andoni Iraola's first competitive fixture at Anfield.