Newcastle United’s relative ill-feeling towards Liverpool goes back longer than the Alexander Isak saga, it seems.
Indeed, Newcastle were baffled by Liverpool’s approach for Isak earlier this summer as their opening bid reportedly fell well below what the Reds had informally communicated they were prepared to pay.
It has left a sour taste on Tyneside. Isak has invoked the ire of Newcastle fans and will miss his second competitive game of the season due to the speculation about a move to Liverpool when the Premier League champions come to St James’ Park on Monday.
Liverpool have already beaten Newcastle to the signing of Hugo Ekitike this summer and watching them take Isak too would be a bitter blow.
Toon supporters will no doubt voice their feelings about it all on Monday, but it seems Liverpool had riled Newcastle long before the Isak saga unfolded.
Jurgen Klopp and Eddie Howe embrace before Liverpool vs Newcastle United.
Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images
How Jurgen Klopp riled Newcastle United
According to The Daily Telegraph, former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp struck a nerve with figures at St James’.
Back in October 2022, Klopp said Newcastle had “no ceiling” following the PIF takeover, while claiming his club did not have such a luxury.
“Newcastle said there’s no ceiling for the club, external, he’s right, there is no ceiling for Newcastle – congratulations, some other clubs have ceilings,” he said.
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"There's no ceiling for Newcastle. Congratulations. Some other club's have ceilings."
Jurgen Klopp has his say on the financial resources of clubs like Man City and Newcastle pic.twitter.com/OpkiZHLD0S
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) October 14, 2022
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“We cannot act like them, it’s not possible.”
Clearly, that hasn’t proven to be the case. The PSR rules do not allow Newcastle to spend freely at this stage.
In fact, the report adds that it was Klopp who forced Eddie Howe into action. Back in January 2023, the Newcastle United manager said: “We are not here to be popular and to get other teams to like us. We are here to compete and to compete, we have to give everything to try and get a positive result.
“I’ve got no issue saying that. That is our job and that’s what we’re going to try and continue to do.”
It’s thought that Howe was actually responding to Klopp when he made that statement.
Arne Slot sends classy message to Eddie Howe before Newcastle vs Liverpool
The Isak saga has been damaging for Newcastle. Even if he doesn’t join Liverpool this summer, the Magpies have already dropped points without him this season.
Still, Klopp’s successor Arne Slot has remained relatively classy in the build-up to a massive game on Monday, one made all the more interesting given the circus surrounding Isak’s future.
Slot revealed he has a good relationship with Howe, and the Newcastle United manager is the only Premier League boss he has ever texted in private.
“It’s maybe not a coincidence that I’ve texted with him because I think he’s a very nice and honest, polite colleague,” he said.
The only [Premier League] manager I’ve ever texted with was Eddie Howe.”