A penny for Alexander Isak's thoughts on Monday evening, when Newcastle United and Liverpool conclude Premier League gameweek two in a St James' Park showdown that needs no grand build-up.
The Magpies sorely missed their Scandinavian marksman in last weekend's goalless draw with Aston Villa, whereas the Reds had a new attacking hero to thank for their 4-2 beating of Bournemouth.
Match preview
A transfer saga with no end in sight has been quite the backdrop to Monday's mouthwatering fixture - one that could have hardly been timed better by the Premier League fixture generator - as Isak does his utmost to force an exit from the hosts to the title-holding visitors.
The Sweden international and his current club recently engaged in a back-and-forth of critical statements, as Isak accused Newcastle of broken promises and stated that their relationship could not continue, whereas the Magpies insisted that no such agreement to allow him to leave the club this summer had ever been made.
In between batting away the same old questions in his press conferences, Eddie Howe has been busy seeking alternative attacking answers in Isak's absence, but his Magpies crop failed to provide them against Villa in matchweek one, even after Ezri Konsa took the walk of shame for a last-man foul.
Picking up where they left off at the end of last season, Newcastle have now failed to score in three straight Premier League matches; not since the pre-lockdown days of February 2020 have the hosts gone four in a row without netting in England's top flight.
However, a more favourable streak of four could be achieved by the men in black and white, who are bidding to win their first home game of the season for the fourth straight year under Howe, who has overseen six victories from Newcastle's last seven matches at St James' Park.
Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike celebrates scoring on August 15, 2025
No Isak meant no problem for Liverpool during the first Premier League game of the 2025-26 season, where the Reds' defensive deficiencies nearly proved costly against a spirited Bournemouth, but Arne Slot's men eventually came out on the correct end of a six-goal scoreline.
Hugo Ekitike's debut goal and assist preceded a blistering brace from Antoine Semenyo - shortly after the Ghanaian reported alleged racist abuse from a member of the crowd - but Federico Chiesa's bedlam-including volley and Mohamed Salah's customary opening goal extinguished the Cherries' comeback hopes.
Fire met fire at Anfield on August 15, as Liverpool made up for their rearguard vulnerabilities with offensive incisiveness to end a four-game winless run in the Premier League, while also righting the wrongs of their demoralising Community Shield loss to Crystal Palace.
However, including that curtain-raising defeat to the Eagles, Liverpool have now kept just one clean sheet in their last 10 competitive matches - which came against doomed Leicester City - but a more desirable record could now be equalled at the other end of the pitch.
If the Reds find the net on Monday, they will match their all-time longest top-flight scoring streak of 36 matches - set between 2019 and 2020 - and while last year's EFL Cup final went the way of Newcastle, the Magpies have failed to win any of their last 17 Premier League tussles with the reigning champions.
Newcastle United Premier League form:
Liverpool Premier League form:
Liverpool form (all competitions):
Team News
Liverpool's Jeremie Frimpong pictured on August 15, 2025
As expected, there has been no miraculous make-up between Isak and Newcastle over the past week, and the £150m-rated attacker remains ostracised from the group while he pines for a move to Anfield.
However, Isak may be the hosts' only absentee for Monday's fixture, as Joe Willock is on course to return from the calf injury he sustained in pre-season and is the solitary fitness concern in Howe's ranks at present.
A debut could also come the way of Jacob Ramsey following his big-money switch from Aston Villa, but Howe may ease the Englishman in slowly, allowing Anthony Elanga, Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes a shot at redemption up front.
Barnes in particular ought to be licking his lips on the left, as Liverpool will be without Jeremie Frimpong until after the international break owing to a hamstring injury, while Conor Bradley is only just back in team training and Joe Gomez's fitness is being carefully managed.
Slot name-checked a couple of emergency alternatives in his pre-game press conference, including Dominik Szoboszlai, who could very well start as Liverpool's right-back at St James' Park thanks to the return of Ryan Gravenberch from suspension.
On the back of his obligatory opening-day strike, Salah now aims to build on a sensational record of 10 goals and eight assists against Newcastle in the Premier League, where he has also set up a goal in six straight meetings with the Magpies.
Newcastle United possible starting lineup:
Pope; Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento; Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton; Elanga, Gordon, Barnes
Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Alisson; Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike
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We say: Newcastle United 1-2 Liverpool
As frail as Liverpool can be defensively, an Isak-less Newcastle are not exactly well-placed to capitalise on such weaknesses, especially if last weekend's profligate performance is anything to go by.
Howe's men will have success on the counter with a little more ruthlessness, but a full-strength Liverpool attack can bite back even harder to make it two for two on Monday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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