Alexander Isak Faces Hostile Return to Newcastle in Liverpool Draw

Alexander Isak walked back into St James’ Park and straight into a wall of noise.

Booed from the warm-up to the final whistle, branded “greedy” in a chant that echoed around his old home, the Sweden striker endured a brutal return to Tyneside in Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Newcastle on Sunday. Every miscontrol, every missed chance, every heavy touch drew another roar of derision from a crowd that once adored him.

One tackle summed up the mood. Lewis Hall thundered into Isak, sent him sprawling, and the stadium erupted as if Newcastle had scored again. The hostility was relentless.

Isak’s £125 million move to Anfield last year was supposed to be a statement. Instead, injuries and poor form turned it into one of last season’s biggest disappointments. On this evidence, the question lingers: when does that fee start to make sense?

New Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola insisted the occasion did not crush his striker.

“I think he expected a bit the atmosphere, it was not a big surprise for him,” Iraola 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.”

The fight was needed. Liverpool were seconds from defeat in Iraola’s first Premier League game in charge, their familiar defensive frailties laid bare again.

Anthony Elanga struck early to put Newcastle in front, capitalising on Liverpool’s uncertainty at the back. The visitors responded after the break, Cody Gakpo levelling soon after half-time to briefly quieten the home crowd.

Newcastle hit back almost immediately. Joe Willock came off the bench and made an instant impact, restoring the lead and reigniting the noise. For long spells, Matthias Jaissle’s side looked sharper, quicker, more cohesive, even without injured regulars Dan Burn and Joelinton.

Just as the home fans began to savour a statement win to launch a new era, the drama flipped.

Deep into stoppage time, Hall clattered into Victor Munoz inside the area. The contact was clumsy, the decision contentious. The penalty stood. Dominik Szoboszlai stepped up and hammered his spot-kick into the roof of the net, ripping away two points from Newcastle and handing Iraola a lifeline start.

“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 obvious after watching his side teeter on the brink.

On the opposite bench, Jaissle could barely hide his frustration at the late call that turned three points into one.

“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,” the Newcastle manager 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.”

Jaissle still found encouragement in the performance. Newcastle outplayed Liverpool for long stretches, pressed aggressively, and coped impressively without key figures.

“This was special, already delivering on a high level and it makes us proud. We've a really good base to build on,” he said.

For Liverpool, the point felt like an escape. For Newcastle, it felt like a theft. For Isak, it was something else entirely: a reminder that reputations can turn quickly, and that a £125 million price tag buys expectation, not patience.