Alexander Isak will be the elephant in the room when Newcastle host Liverpool in a blockbuster Monday night fixture.
Liverpool’s pursuit of Isak this summer has resulted in the Swedish forward being absent for Newcastle this season and he will not feature at St James’ Park.
Manchester United experienced more frustration in a 1-1 draw at Fulham, which was also how it finished between new rivals Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest at a white-hot Selhurst Park, while Everton enjoyed a triumphant first Premier League fixture at their new stadium.
No Isak no Party?
Eddie Howe insists Alexander Isak’s future will be “irrelevant” when Newcastle attempt to claim their first Premier League win of the season against defending champions Liverpool.
The Magpies’ head coach has spent much of his summer being grilled about the future of his star striker with the Reds having launched a £110million bid for the services of a player who is valued by his current employers at £150m.
The Sweden international, who has been training alone after missing Newcastle’s pre-season tour to Singapore and South Korea, will play no part in Monday’s game and while Howe desperately wants the player to stay, he will not give him a second thought.
“We are looking to start the season well. Alex’s situation is irrelevant, really. When the game starts, it’s about us playing to the best of our ability and showing the fighting spirit we did against Aston Villa,” Howe said.
We don’t talk about Bruno
Man United captain Bruno Fernandes was “upset” referee Chris Kavanagh did not apologise for bumping into him ahead of his penalty during the 1-1 draw at Fulham, but insisted the official was not to blame for him missing.
Fernandes skied his first-half spot-kick moments after colliding with the official when he had started his routine.
The score was 0-0 at the time, with United going ahead in the second half through Rodrigo Muniz’s own goal before Emile Smith Rowe earned a point for the home side.
The Portugal midfielder said on Sky Sports: “It upset me because the referee didn’t apologise, and that was what triggered me in that moment. But that’s not the excuse to missing the penalty. I just had a very bad hit on the ball.”
Palace under-fire for brash banner
Crystal Palace face an investigation from the Football Association after their fans held up a graphic banner about Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis during Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Selhurst Park.
There has been tension between the clubs all summer after both indirectly went head-to-head for a place in this season’s Europa League and only earlier this month it was decided Forest would enter UEFA’s second-tier competition at the expense of Palace.
A white-hot atmosphere was anticipated for this fixture and Palace supporters in the Holmesdale End held aloft a banner of Marinakis, which depicted the Greek businessman holding a gun to the head of Forest captain Morgan Gibbs-White. The PA news agency understands the FA will look into the incident.
Jack’s the lad for Toffees
Everton manager David Moyes was pleased his decision to give Jack Grealish licence to attack paid off after the on-loan Manchester City winger provided the assists for both goals in the 2-0 win over Brighton.
The England international managed just two assists in the last two Premier League seasons at City but matched that in his first 71 minutes of football for his new club, setting up Iliman Ndiaye and James Garner.
He departed to a standing ovation in second-half added time after gracing the competitive opening of Everton’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium with an impressive first start.
“We all want the Jack Grealish we all know but you don’t play for the club if you haven’t got it and Jack has certainly got it,” Moyes said.
What’s on today?
Liverpool’s trip to Newcastle is not the only professional football in England on the August bank holiday.
There is a full set of fixtures in the National League, including a trip to Aldershot for revitalised Morecambe.
Athletic Bilbao and Sevilla are in LaLiga action against Rayo Vallecano and Getafe respectively, while in Serie A, Inter Milan host Torino in new boss Christian Chivu’s first match at the San Siro.
