Alexander Isak Faces Hostile Reception in Liverpool's Draw at Newcastle
Alexander Isak walked back into St James’ Park and straight into a wall of noise.
Boos rained down. A chant branding him “greedy” rolled around the stands again and again, each touch of the ball met with venom from the supporters who once adored him. One full-blooded challenge from Lewis Hall, which sent the Liverpool forward sprawling, drew a roar that almost matched Newcastle’s goals.
On his first return to Tyneside since last year’s £125 million move to Anfield, Isak endured a grim afternoon in front of goal in a 2-2 draw that felt far more chaotic than the scoreline suggests. The Sweden international, whose debut season at Liverpool was wrecked by injuries and indifferent form, did little here to quiet the doubts over whether he will ever justify that fee.
Andoni Iraola, though, refused to pin anything on the reception.
“I think he expected a bit the atmosphere, it was not a big surprise for him,” the new Liverpool manager said. “He has tried everything, given us good positions on the ball, has had a couple of situations to finish in the box but not the clearest but I value that he has continued pushing, fighting.”
Isak toiled, snatching at half-chances, drifting on the fringes as the game raged around him. Liverpool, once again, were betrayed by the same defensive frailties that haunted them last season and found themselves on the brink of opening the Iraola era with a defeat.
First Half
Newcastle struck first. Anthony Elanga punished slack defending early on, igniting a home crowd already primed for an emotional afternoon. Liverpool staggered, then responded after the break, Cody Gakpo levelling soon after half-time to briefly tilt the momentum.
The respite did not last. Matthias Jaissle, overseeing his first competitive match since replacing Eddie Howe following his shock resignation, watched substitute Joe Willock make an instant impact, restoring Newcastle’s lead almost as soon as he stepped off the bench.
Late Drama
St James’ Park sensed a statement win. Newcastle, missing key figures Dan Burn and Joelinton, had outplayed Liverpool for long spells, pressing with energy and attacking with purpose. For Jaissle, it looked like the perfect launchpad.
Then came the twist.
Deep into stoppage time, with the home fans urging the final whistle, Hall lunged clumsily at Victor Munoz inside the area. Contact was enough for the referee to point to the spot. Dominik Szoboszlai stepped up and thumped the penalty into the roof of the net, silencing the stadium and salvaging a point for Iraola.
“We scored at the end, so probably you have a better taste. But before the game we wouldn't have signed for this result,” Iraola admitted, relief evident after a chaotic debut on the Liverpool touchline.
On the opposite bench, Jaissle struggled to swallow the late call.
“It was indeed a game of mixed feelings, especially in the end when you get a decision, two points away, it is really hard to digest,” he said. “For me it is a really soft penalty as you call it here, if you give these penalties then you need to give a lot in the season.
“But there is also a lot of confidence and we are really proud of what we saw, the young lads were doing an amazing job with all the challenges of a transition period.”
That transition, on this evidence, has foundations. Newcastle’s intensity barely dipped despite their absentees, their new manager encouraged by how his side went toe-to-toe with one of the league’s heavyweights.
“This was special, already delivering on a high level and it makes us proud. We've a really good base to build on,” Jaissle said.
Liverpool, by contrast, leave with a point, a late jolt of adrenaline and the same old questions. The defence still leaks. The £125 million striker still looks short of conviction. The new manager still has a mountain of work to do.
The boos for Isak eventually faded into the Tyneside night. The judgment on whether he can ever escape them has only just begun.
