The defending Premier League champions began their season with an impressive 4-2 victory over Bournemouth, with new signing Hugo Ekitike playing a starring role. The French forward opened the scoring and later provided a crucial assist, helping Liverpool build a two-goal lead. Although Bournemouth fought back with two goals of their own, late strikes from Federico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah secured the win, giving Arne Slot’s side a perfect start to the campaign.
Off the pitch, Liverpool’s pursuit of Newcastle striker Alexander Isak has emerged as one of the defining stories of the summer transfer window. According to journalist Sacha Tavolieri, the Merseyside club has now set a firm deadline for negotiations. While Isak remains their top target, Liverpool are determined not to get drawn into a prolonged saga and expect a resolution by next week.
The Reds’ initial bid for the Magpies star was rejected, and they have since adopted a cautious approach, waiting for signals from Eddie Howe’s side that Newcastle might be willing to sell. However, Newcastle are under no immediate pressure to negotiate and value Isak as a cornerstone of their project, demanding a fee that reflects both his current importance and future potential.
Liverpool, mindful of other areas in the squad requiring reinforcement, are cautious about overspending. Should the Isak deal fall through, the club is prepared to pivot quickly to alternative high-profile options identified by their scouting team. The coming days will test Newcastle’s stance: whether to cash in on their star striker or risk keeping a potentially unhappy player at the club
