Alexander Isak was met with a chorus of boos as he walked back into St James' Park for the first time since his £125m move to Liverpool last summer. The former Newcastle United striker stepped off the team bus and made his way up the steps to the Milburn Stand reception, where the hostile reception from the Toon faithful made clear how he is now viewed on Tyneside.
Hostile welcome for former hero
Isak was still a Newcastle player when Liverpool last visited St James' Park 12 months ago, having requested a move to Merseyside. This time, wearing Liverpool's tracksuit, he did not need reminding that he is no longer a popular figure at the club, despite scoring Newcastle's most famous goal in modern times at Wembley in 2025 against the same opposition.
With his earphones firmly plugged in, Isak tried to block out the noise as he edged past a cluster of photographers and journalists who had gathered to capture one of the main storylines of the afternoon.
Manager's plea before kickoff
The reception came despite a pre-match plea from Newcastle boss Jaissle for supporters to back the current squad. Speaking before the game, Jaissle said: "I would be pleased when our fans and I believe that they will just follow us and support us as a team.
"Again, I think this energy will be the most important thing, that the players feel that energy from the stands."
He added: "Then we want to deliver our game, we want to play our way of football, like the Newcastle United fans are expecting, and then we will have a fantastic Sunday evening."
The hostile welcome for Isak suggested that message may not have landed as intended, with the focus firmly on the returning striker as he entered the stadium.
