Newcastle United v Liverpool: Premier League – live
Key events
There has been a goal at the Etihad to set up a tense finish between Manchester City and Bournemouth. Join our MBM for the latest.
Newcastle’s top-four chance creators from last season all have left the club. The club made well over £200m from the sales of Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimarães but it’s interesting that summer arrivals Bazoumana Touré (signed for £43m from Hoffenheim) and Aladji Bamba (signed for £30m from Monaco) are not in Jaissle’s XI today. Where are the goals going to come from?
Here is Louise Taylor’s preview. And yes, it is on Alexander Isak.
The teams!
Newcastle (4-2-3-1): Hornicek; Dedic, Thiaw, Botman, Hall; Miley, Steur; Barnes, Wissa, Elanga; Osula.
Subs: Jaouen, Schar, Bamba, Toure, Murphy, Woltemade, Willock, Ramsey, Shahar.
Liverpool: Alisson; Frimpong, Jacquet, van Dijk, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch; Ngumoha, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak.
Subs: Mamardashvili, Endo, Mac Allister, Tsimikas, Munoz, Araujo, Nyoni, McConnell, Koumas.
Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire)
Almost a year ago to the day, Newcastle’s first home match last season was also against Liverpool. With Alexander Isak holed up in his Northumberland mansion 10 miles south of St James Park’ as he attempted to force through a move to Liverpool, Newcastle conceded a 100th-minute winner, scored expertly by the Reds’ teenage star Rio Ngumoha.
A lot will depend on if Liverpool do any more business for wide players in this window (and how much Iraola trusts new signing Víctor Muñoz, who looks very promising) but this could possibly be a huge season for Ngumoha. The English winger has it all, he just needs the opportunities to prove it.
Preamble
If there is a match between Newcastle and Liverpool, the mind instantly goes to Kevin Keegan. The man was a genius and King Kev will be rightly honoured today at St James’ Park as the two clubs meet. Tifos, banners and a 52,000-card salute is planned, while a mosaic has been designed to fit inside the centre circle, made up of shirts that were left in tribute by Newcastle supporters at the ground following the news of his death last month. RIP Keegan.
If talk of a club legend has dominated the historical discourse off the pitch, it is a much less popular, less permed individual that is a more defining figure for both clubs on this particular match.
Alexander Isak’s departure from Newcastle on deadline day last summer for a British-record fee was a huge factor in the north-east club’s poor campaign last time out that ultimately led to the departure of Eddie Howe. Isak’s sale was seen as a marker of ambition, or lack thereof, and that has permeated the club’s boardroom, the mindset of the fans and possibly Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimarães, all of whom have departed for pastures new. Newcastle are now a club firmly in transition under their new manager, Matthias Jaissle. Anything from Europe to relegation is on the cards.
If Newcastle are still trying to fill the void left by Isak, Liverpool seem still unsure how to best use the striker. Just as we do not know what Liverpool are capable of under Andoni Iraola, the jury is also out on Isak, who struggled for form and fitness in the last 12 months. With Hugo Ekitike still sidelined and Mohamed Salah departed, there is much pressure on the Swede for goals. Isak has the talent but there is still a question of whether he can produce the same output after his injury and in a team that is less tailored to the striker’s exact needs. Liverpool claim that they are title contenders but they still seem short of elite squad depth in a merciless league.
The Premier League is back, and for these two clubs, this match should be an emotive and intriguing ride.
Kick-off: 4.30pm BST.
