Arne Slot has revealed he does not expect transfer target Alexander Isak to play for Newcastle when they host Liverpool on Monday night.
The Swedish striker has been part of a significant saga over the summer, with the Reds looking to sign him but the Magpies currently blocking his move to Anfield.
Reports suggested that Slot’s side tabled a bid worth £110million earlier in the window, but Newcastle will not entertain any bids lower than £150m.
As a result, Isak has gone on strike, training alone and being excluded from the matchday squad for the opening draw with Aston Villa.
During the PFA Awards earlier in the week – in which Isak was nominated for the 2024-25 Player of the Season prize – he released a statement slamming the club, suggesting they had made promises to him that had not been kept.
Newcastle responded with their own statement, essentially closing the door on his departure this summer and saying they will reintegrate him when the time is right.
But when that will be is currently unknown, and Slot does not believe he will be in attendance during the clash at St James’ Park on Monday.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, he said: “The main thing we have to be ready for is their midfield, their last line.
“I assume [Alexander] Isak is not playing from what I read in the media but they still have Anthony Gordon as a nine, they still have Anthony Elanga as a right-winger and Harvey Barnes from the left.
“This is the Premier League – we all have options and Newcastle have them as well.”
He went on to heap more praise on Newcastle, who have struggled to bring in their top priority signings this summer.
He added: “I don’t think they are a club with troubles. They had a very good start to the season against Aston Villa.
“It was a very good game for them and I think they were able to get more out of the game than the one point they got.
“It’s mainly difficult because of the players they have there, not only because of the fans. The atmosphere is great like it is at Anfield so we are used to a certain environment but St James’ Park if I remember last season when it was an evening game – the atmosphere was amazing. But why is the atmosphere amazing? Because the players can perform.
“The challenge is playing in a stadium where the fans will be there for the home team and that always helps but if you only have fans and you don’t have the players then you can forget it.”
Chiesa’s Redemption
Forgotten man Federico Chiesa was the hero on opening night against Bournemouth.
Introduced off the bench, the Italian winger scored the goal to put Liverpool 3-2 up, before Mohamed Salah sealed the deal.
It came after an initial scare, with the Premier League champions forfeiting a 2-0 lead and looking on the brink of dropping points.
With his future previously uncertain, it now looks as though Chiesa will be part of Slot’s plans this season.
He said: “If he is more available, then he already has more chances to impact our results or his playing time. It is about him staying as fit as he is at the moment.
“I see a totally different Federico now than for large parts of last season which is completely normal because he missed the entire pre-season and he came into a Premier League rhythm in terms of amount of games and intensity.
“He is in a much better place now and we can all see, when I needed a goal, I looked to the bench and I only had him and a 16-year-old in Rio [Ngumoha]. It was more of a choice to bring him in and he delivered.”
