Newcastle’s boos greet Alexander Isak before Premier League clash

Alexander Isak returned to Newcastle on Saturday ahead of Liverpool’s Premier League season‑opener at St James’ Park, only to be met with a torrent of boos and foul‑mouthed chants from the Toon Army, a year after his £125 million deadline‑day move to Anfield.

Transfer saga and fallout

Aaron Morris, Senior Sports Reporter, and Bruna reported the scene in Aug. The Swedish frontman sealed a £125 million deadline‑day move to Anfield last summer, the most compelling saga of that transfer window. While Eddie Howe had been confident Isak would stay at St James’ Park for the 2025/26 season, the striker later announced his wish to seek opportunities elsewhere.

At 26, Isak snubbed Newcastle United’s pre‑season tour and trained with former club Real Sociedad, prompting a month of uncertainty. Upon returning to Darsley Park, he was excluded from first‑team training as he pushed for a Merseyside move.

Hostile reception in Newcastle

On September 1 LIVERPOOL confirmed the British‑record fee for the centre‑forward, and Newcastle fans quickly unfurled a banner reading “Isak is a pure rat”. Social media erupted with insults, and on Saturday the striker walked into the Reds’ hotel, earphones on, while supporters shouted “F*** off” and “W*****”. ImagesAlexander captured the scene, and a photo labelled Park(Image showed the banner outside the ground. Getty Images later released the footage, and we heard the chants echo through the streets.

The hostile welcome is set to repeat at St James’ Park on Sunday afternoon, when the two sides clash in a Premier League curtain‑raiser at 4.30 pm. The stadium holds 52,719 supporters, all poised to hear Isak’s attempts to silence the crowd. Get ready for the clash, as he is expected to spearhead Andoni Iraola’s attack, with Hugo Ekitike still out after an Achilles tendon rupture earlier this year.

Isak missed pre‑season due to his protracted transfer, and then‑manager Arne Slot monitored his condition cautiously. A fractured leg in late December during a 2‑1 win over Tottenham sidelined him for 106 days, and subsequent adductor and muscular problems forced him out of two more fixtures. He finished the campaign with three goals from 14 appearances and will aim for a more consistent 2026/27 season.

He made 14 appearances in all competitions, scoring three goals. His limited output reflects the series of injuries that disrupted his debut campaign.