Liverpool are set for quite the welcome at Newcastle on Monday night as the Alexander Isak transfer saga continues to draw attention and hostile emotion at St James’ Park.
Newcastle vs. Liverpool
Premier League (2) | St James’ Park
August 25, 2025 | 8pm (BST)
Liverpool started their Premier League title defence in the only way they know how, in dramatic fashion after surrendering a two-goal lead before going on to win 4-2 late on.
Eddie Howe’s side banked a solitary point in their goalless draw at Aston Villa as their start to the campaign is dominated by Isak and an inability to add forwards to their squad.
Here is all you need to know ahead of Monday’s trip to Newcastle.
1. Alexander Isak will NOT play
Alexander Isak, Newcastle (Gareth Fuller/PA)
The saga that is Isak’s future continues to rumble on, and as he continues to train by himself away from Newcastle‘s first team, he will not play on Monday night.
Speaking on Friday, Howe gave his take on the ongoing situation and claimed the saga “looks like it is coming to an end, or it will come to an end pretty quickly.”
“The club has to act in the best interests of Newcastle United. It will do that in every situation,” he explained.
It remains to be seen if Isak and Liverpool will get their wish before the transfer deadline on September 1, as it depends on Newcastle finally managing to sign that elusive striker.
2. Jeremie Frimpong injury blow
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Friday, August 15, 2025: Liverpool's Jeremie Frimpong during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and AFC Bournemouth at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Jeremie Frimpong is sidelined with a hamstring injury he suffered against Bournemouth, with Arne Slot revealing he will not be back until after the September international break.
Conor Bradley is still on the comeback trail, while Joe Gomez missed sessions during the week to leave big question marks over who will start at right-back.
Liverpool are not carrying any other injuries into the match, though Slot will have a selection dilemma for his 20-man matchday squad, which will likely see Kostas Tsimikas and Trey Nyoni among those to miss out.
Newest signing Giovanni Leoni is free to play, but he could also be left on Merseyside if Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Gomez are all fit.
3. Who could start at right-back?
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Friday, August 15, 2025: Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai applauds the supporters after the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and AFC Bournemouth at Anfield. Liverpool won 4-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
With Bradley still not fit enough to return – he trained separately on Thursday – it begs the question of who Slot will opt for at right-back in his and Frimpong’s absence.
As for Gomez, the manager explained “he wasn’t able to train three days in a row,” and they will have to “see where he is on Monday and if he can start.”
If the England international is not fit to start, Wataru Endo and Dominik Szoboszlai are contenders at right-back, and Curtis Jones has been used in the position previously.
With Szoboszlai used there throughout pre-season, it would not be a surprise to see the Hungarian move to defence as Ryan Gravenberch returns to the midfield after his suspension.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Alisson; Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike
4. Anthony Gordon to lead Newcastle’s attack
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 16, 2025: Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon reacts after missing a chance during the FA Premier League match between Aston Villa FC and Newcastle United FC at Villa Park. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
As abovementioned, Isak will not be in the matchday squad, but there is expected to be a place for Howe’s latest signing Jacob Ramsey, who joined from Aston Villa.
Malick Thiaw will be in contention for his debut, but likely off the bench, while Joe Willock is back in training after a calf injury sustained during pre-season.
In all likelihood, Howe will name the same starting lineup from the opening game of the season – a goalless draw against Villa – which will see Anthony Gordon lead the attack as they remain without a recognised striker.
Possible Newcastle XI: Pope; Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento; Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Elanga, Barnes, Gordon
5. Arne Slot: Federico Chiesa is “totally different now”
Federico Chiesa delivered the match-winning moment against Bournemouth and that prompted questions about the Italian’s role from the press, to which Slot said:
“If he’s more available then he already has more chances to impact our results or his playing time.
“So yeah, but then it’s about him staying as fit as he is in the moment.
“I see a totally different Federico now than through large parts of last season.
“Which is completely normal, because he missed out on the whole pre-season and then came into a Premier League rhythm in terms of amount of games and in terms of intensity.
“He’s in a much better place now.”
6. Expect a “raucous” St James’ Park
LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, March 16, 2025: Newcastle United supporters during the Football League Cup Final match between Liverpool FC and Newcastle United FC at Wembley Stadium. Newcastle United won 2-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
With Isak dominating headlines, there’s been a strange desire to point the finger at Liverpool for their conduct (unfairly), and it’s to trigger quite the reaction on Monday.
This Is Anfield spoke to Newcastle fan and writer Dave Black to discuss what we can expect inside the ground:
“Raucous. It’s a bank holiday, so both sets of fans will likely be well-oiled.
“There is a disdain for the way Liverpool are perceived to have acted through all this, but again, factually, all we know is they have placed a bid and Newcastle rejected it.
“There’s been some ‘banter’ on social media between the two sets of fans, but I find all of that quite tedious.
“It is a big game, regardless, and add in the bank holiday and the Isak situation, and I’m expecting it to be pretty wild.”
• READ: Alexander Isak has “badly let down” Newcastle – expect “wild” crowd vs. Liverpool
7. Hugo Ekitike’s chance to match Daniel Sturridge
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Friday, August 15, 2025: Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike celebrates after Cody Gakpo (#18) scored their side's second goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and AFC Bournemouth at Anfield. Liverpool won 4-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Hugo Ekitike has made quite the start to life at Liverpool, scoring in the Community Shield and again against Bournemouth on the opening day of the season.
And if he were to score against Newcastle, he would become the first Liverpool player since Daniel Sturridge in January 2013 to score in his first three games for the club.
A goal against Newcastle, in particular, would be rather nice!
8. Give us your score prediction!
Of Liverpool’s last five visits to St James’ Park, they have won three – with last season’s fixture ending in a 3-3 draw after Liverpool led twice.
There has only been one 0-0 draw in the last 78 league encounters (and 84 in all competitions) dating back to February 1974, so that’s worth keeping in mind for your prediction!
9. Referee: Simon Hooper
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, February 16, 2025: Liverpool's Ibrahima Konaté is shown a yellow card referee Simon Hooper during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers FC at Anfield. Liverpool won 2-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
The referee, who will need to take control from the off, is Simon Hooper – and he will be assisted on the touchline by Adrian Holmes and Simon Long.
Hooper has history with Liverpool, having taken charge of the 1-0 defeat at Tottenham in 2023/24, when Luis Diaz incorrectly had a goal disallowed and Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota were harshly sent off.
Tony Harrington is the fourth official at St James’, while John Brooks is on VAR, supported by Steve Meredith.
Slot was not exactly a fan of Brooks last season, let’s hope he doesn’t have to add another reason why on Monday!
10. How to follow the match with TIA!
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Wednesday, December 4, 2024: A general view before the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Liverpool’s trip to Newcastle is the 8pm kickoff on Monday, which will be shown live in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, which is available to live stream here.
If you prefer our biased take on proceedings, then join Henry Jackson on our liveblog from 7.15pm as he keeps you informed and entertained.
Into these, Reds!