When Newcastle United beat Liverpool at Wembley last season to lift the Carabao Cup, supporters spoke of a night that ended seventy years of waiting for a domestic trophy, a night when Alexander Isak’s winning goal seemed to mark the beginning of a new era on Tyneside.
The emotion of that victory has lingered, yet as this fixture returns in the league, the striker who sealed it finds himself at the center of an uncomfortable saga about his future.
Liverpool saw a £110m [$147m] bid rejected earlier this summer and while Newcastle insist they do not want to sell, Isak has accused the club of breaking promises.
He is training away from the main group, leaving questions not only about his long-term plans but also about how the Magpies manage a player who only months ago was their hero at Wembley.
And while the drama around Isak future lingers on, the Eddie Howe side will have to deal with another problem come August 25.
That comes in the form of Hugo Ekitike, the Frenchman was targeted by the Magpies as a potential partner for Isak but never managed to land him.
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Their £70m [$93m] offer to Eintracht Frankfurt was rejected and within days Liverpool struck a deal worth £69m [$92m] plus £10m [$13m] in add-ons.
Ekitike has already shown his ability by scoring on his Premier League debut against Bournemouth, which makes him a threat at St James’ Park.
What Eddie Howe said about Hugo Ekitike as Liverpool clash looms?
Speaking in a press conference, Eddie Howe said, “There’s no doubt I really like Hugo and have done for a number of years.”
“He’s got really good qualities, and he showed that in his first Premier League game, he had a really good debut against Bournemouth.”
“He’s got really good movement, he’s intelligent, he’s good in the air, scores goals.”
“I think he’s got a load of qualities that will serve him really well in the Premier League. Our job will be to keep him quiet and try to control him, but certainly he’s going to be a threat this year.”
Liverpool hold the edge over Newcastle with three wins in the last five meetings, yet Eddie Howe’s men have shown resilience, most recently at Wembley.
This clash carries history’s weight and present tension with Isak’s future unresolved and Ekitike emerging as the striker they failed to secure.
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