Newcastle’s strong-arm response to Liverpool’s try and take their greatest participant began just a few hours earlier than kick-off, on a leafy residential avenue in Northumberland.
If that assembly between the membership’s high brass and Alexander Isak on the striker’s residence was meant to be hush-hush, there was nothing discreet about what lay in wait at St James’ Park.
‘Get into them’ was the instruction of the Wor Flags banner within the East Stand, like a bugle name earlier than the cost. And so, Newcastle did. They acquired into them, up them and round them. The house aspect have been by no means going to park the bus towards the nation’s greatest workforce – as a substitute, they tried to hit the guests with a black-and-white fleet of them.
If Isak has achieved one factor by his actions this summer time, it’s that the gamers he desires to be his new team-mates might be waking up with some bloodied souvenirs from their journey to Tyneside. As a result of in riling these with whom he used to share a dressing-room – Isak stays on strike – he performed his half within the second that helped Liverpool on their option to victory, Anthony Gordon’s first-half dismissal.
However despite the fact that Isak is refusing to play, 10-man Newcastle refused to lie down. From 0-2 to 2-2, this was a miraculous comeback that the Toon Military can solely hope is replicated by Isak’s personal return to their quantity. It stung when Liverpool snatched a win within the a hundredth minute.
There was standing ovation for the house heroes, however they nonetheless want Isak. When Gordon’s crimson mist descended in first-half injury-time, the upshot was a crimson card. He scraped his studs down the calf of Virgil van Dijk, however the actuality was he had shot his personal workforce within the foot.
Rio Ngumoha snatched victory for Liverpool after Newcastle had fought again from 2-0 down
Anthony Gordon shot his personal workforce within the foot when he was despatched off for a reckless lunge on Virgil van Dijk
Newcastle desperately want Alexander Isak within the aspect – and there’s a means again for the star
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That’s Gordon, the makeshift striker who’s at the moment the one senior participant Howe can use within the gap left by Isak. He’ll now miss three matches. And he had finished properly to that time, a blonde ball of fury and fireplace. All of that made means for futility when he was dismissed by referee Simon Hooper.
Liverpool have been already 1-0 up and, have been it not for Gordon’s indiscretion, the half-time evaluation would possibly as properly have been a rerun of final weekend’s opening-day draw at Aston Villa – performed properly, didn’t rating.
A blind man on a galloping horse can see what Newcastle are lacking – and if he might hop off and trigger havoc within the six-yard field, he would possibly properly get a recreation. Saying that, William Osula – who poked in for 2-2 within the 88th minute – might but be that man within the interim.
However there was already a determined want to influence Isak to return to the squad earlier than a ball had been kicked, which is why co-owner Jamie Reuben and director Jacobo Solis, of PIF, spoke to him yesterday afternoon in his living-room. The character of two factors left behind at Aston Villa, adopted by one other week with out a new striker, implies that the world-class one they have already got have to be advised he’s going nowhere.
The concept he wouldn’t be welcomed by supporters certainly went out of the window right here – they’ll have him again via the entrance door, and so would his team-mates.
Sure, it will want some cautious PR – apologies and the like – however it will be these of a Newcastle persuasion quickly saying ‘thanks’ if Isak began doing what he does greatest. Catches win matches and objectives win video games. The frustration is that the fella who has scored 62 of them for the membership is at the moment coaching alone within the early-evening solar. They want him again within the warmth of the battle at 3pm.
Such was the absence of any presence within the centre-forward place after Gordon was despatched off – earlier than Osula’s introduction, no less than – there have been discussions within the press field and past of Joelinton being despatched again up entrance. It had come to one thing when the thought of returning the large cat midfielder to a place wherein he had beforehand performed like a kitten was gathering real help. One thing is best than nothing being the logic.
Eddie Howe’s aspect have performed properly sufficient to win each of their opening matches however solely have solely level to point out for his or her efforts
Even with 11 males, although, probabilities got here and probabilities went, simply as they did at Villa. Gordon had a trio of headers that went shut and the entrance three, accomplished by wingers Harvey Barnes and Anthony Elanga, have been a nuisance. However for Liverpool, it was an itch that was happy by a scratch. It was solely when chaos took cost within the second half that they turned distressed.
And that’s the fear for a Newcastle aspect who’ve began the season with spirit and cohesion regardless of a nightmare summer time – they’ve performed properly sufficient to win each of their opening matches. What they want is a striker. What they want is a goalscorer. What they want is Alexander Isak to swap his living-room for the dressing-room.
