Newcastle vs Liverpool: Isak's Dramatic Return at St James’ Park
The Premier League’s opening weekend keeps its heavyweight feel on Sunday as Newcastle welcome Liverpool to a snarling St James’ Park – and to the return of Alexander Isak in enemy colours.
Kick-off is 4.30pm in the UK and Ireland, live on Sky Sports, with both clubs stepping into a new era on the touchline and with reshaped dressing rooms after a bruising summer.
New faces in the dugout, big names out on the pitch
Newcastle start life under Matthias Jaissle after Eddie Howe’s departure, trying to drag themselves back up the table after a flat 12th-place finish last season. The rebuild has been brutal. Captain Bruno Guimaraes has gone. Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon have gone. The spine, and much of the swagger, has been ripped out.
Across the technical area, Liverpool also look different. Andoni Iraola replaces Arne Slot, who was sacked after a title defence that fell apart and left the Reds 25 points adrift of champions Arsenal in fifth. The clear-out at Anfield has been just as stark: Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate all left on free transfers over the summer.
The fixture itself has been anything but kind to Newcastle of late. Liverpool won 3-2 at St James’ Park last season and then smashed four past them in a 4-1 victory at Anfield. The scars from those games still linger. So does the noise.
Isak returns – and the temperature rises
The sharpest edge to Sunday’s clash has a name. Alexander Isak.
A year ago, the Swedish striker blew up his relationship with Newcastle, publicly declaring that it “cannot continue”, accusing the club of broken promises and a lack of trust. The fallout was ugly, the exit even more so. Liverpool paid £130m to get him. Tyneside has not forgotten.
The intrigue is no longer simply whether he scores. It’s what happens every time he touches the ball.
Sky Sports’ betting analyst Lewis Jones has zeroed in on that tension. Sky Bet’s “to be fouled” market on Isak has become his angle of attack, with the numbers suggesting value. Historically, Isak has not drawn many fouls, which is why the odds look generous: 10/11 for him to be fouled once or more, 4/1 for two or more. Those prices are built on his usual profile.
Sunday is not usual.
Isak will have a target on his back. Every spin away from a defender, every drive into space, will crank up the volume. One heavy challenge, one clattering tackle, and St James’ Park will explode. For any Newcastle player looking to light the fuse, there is a brutally simple way: put their former star on the turf.
No one is accusing Newcastle of planning anything sinister. This is about the natural edge of an opening-day game, the adrenaline of a hostile crowd, and a narrative that refuses to die quietly.
Jones’ score prediction? A 2-2 draw. His best bets: Isak to be fouled at least once at 10/11, and at least twice at 4/1 with Sky Bet.
How to watch the showdown
For those staying glued to the action from home:
- TV: Sky customers can watch on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League from 4pm.
- App: Subscribers can stream via the Sky Sports app.
- Stream: Non-Sky customers can use a NOW Day or Month membership to watch live.
- Online: Live coverage will run through a dedicated match blog.
- Highlights: Free Premier League highlights will be available shortly after full-time.
Sky Sports subscribers using the app can head to the ‘Watch’ section from 4pm, select the Sky Sports Premier League channel and sign in with their Sky iD.
NOW, Sky’s contract-free streaming service, offers access to all 12 Sky Sports channels and every Sky Sports+ stream through its app across more than 60 devices, with Day and Month memberships available.
Team news: debut doors open
Newcastle’s preparations have taken an early hit. Joelinton and Tino Livramento are both ruled out of the season opener, forcing Jaissle into a reshuffle.
It could be a night of firsts for several Magpies: Lukas Hornicek, Amar Dedic, Sean Steur, Aladji Bamba and Bazoumana Toure are all in line to make their Premier League debuts if called upon.
Liverpool’s back line is the main selection battleground. New arrivals Ronald Araujo and Jeremy Jaquet are duelling to partner Virgil van Dijk at centre-back after both featured against Como last weekend. Victor Munoz is another who could taste league action for the first time in a Liverpool shirt.
A new season, an old grudge
Two clubs under new management. Two squads stripped of icons. One striker walking straight back into the lion’s den.
The points on Sunday will matter. The mood might matter more. How long will it take for the first roar, the first tackle, the first collision with Alexander Isak to set this new Premier League season alight?
