Alexander Isak was met with a wave of boos and abuse on his return to Newcastle, a year on from his contentious switch to Liverpool. His £125million deadline-day move to Anfield became the defining saga of last summer's transfer window.
Former boss Eddie Howe had initially been assured that Isak would remain at St James' Park for the 2025/26 season, but the striker stunned Tyneside by declaring his intention to seek a move away. What followed was more than a month of turmoil with the 26-year-old refusing to join Newcastle's pre-season tour and instead trained with former club Real Sociedad.
Hostile return to Tyneside
When he eventually reported back to Darsley Park, Isak was separated from the first-team group as he continued to push for a transfer to Merseyside. That move was finally completed on September 1st, when Liverpool confirmed a British-record fee for the centre-forward.
The Toon Army, who had idolised Isak for nearly three years, turned on him quickly. Social media filled with furious messages, and one group of supporters even hung a banner outside St James' Park reading: 'Isak is a pure rat.'
On Saturday, the striker made his long-awaited return to the North East ahead of Sunday's clash between Liverpool and Newcastle. As expected, he was met by angry fans gathered outside the Reds' team hotel, unleashing the hostility that had been building since his departure.
Fans make feelings clear
Video footage circulating on social media shows Isak coolly strolling through the hotel entrance, blocking out a torrent of boos and abuse with his earphones firmly in place. Newcastle supporters could be heard shouting the likes of "F*** off," and "W*****" in the clip, as their former hero strode past, expressionless and apparently unmoved by the hostility.
A similarly hostile reception awaits the striker when he takes to the pitch at St James' on Sunday afternoon, with the two sides set to meet in a fiery Premier League season opener at 4.30pm. Isak will be eager to silence the 52,719 supporters packed inside the ground during the 90 minutes, and is expected to lead Andoni Iraola's attack with Hugo Ekitike still sidelined following an Achilles tendon rupture earlier this year.
Difficult debut season at Anfield
This comes after a turbulent debut season on Merseyside for the centre-forward, heavily disrupted by his own injury problems. Having missed pre-season due to his drawn-out transfer, Isak was not afforded the opportunity to make an instant impression with the Reds, as then-manager Arne Slot carefully managed his fitness.
Isak's campaign was further disrupted in late December when he sustained a fractured leg during a 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur. The injury kept Isak on the sidelines for a total of 106 days, with adductor and muscular complaints forcing him to sit out a further two matches towards the end of the season.
Isak managed just three goals from 14 appearances in total, but will be targeting a far more productive campaign in 2026/27, starting with a difficult return to Newcastle.
