Online Reporter
LIVERPOOL can expect a hostile reception when they travel to Newcastle on Monday night amid their pursuit of wantaway Magpies striker Alexander Isak, while Manchester City and Tottenham face off in an early examination of their ambitions for the English Premiership football season.
Across Merseyside, a new era begins for Everton tomorrow when they welcome Brighton for the first competitive game at their new 53 000-capacity stadium.
Isak is set to sit out the meeting between his current employers and his preferred destination as a stand-off over the Swede’s future rolls into the final week of the transfer window.
Newcastle insist the 25-year-old will not move unless they can source an adequate replacement and Liverpool meet their British transfer record price tag of a reported £150 million.
Liverpool have had one bid worth £110 million rejected with their business not yet concluded despite splashing £300 million on new recruits.
Isak broke his silence on Tuesday, saying his relationship with Newcastle “can’t continue” after losing trust in the club.
However, the early season form of Hugo Ekitike has tempered the need for English Premier League champions Liverpool to meet Newcastle’s demands.
The French forward, who rejected Newcastle’s advances to join the Reds, registered a goal and an assist on his Premier League debut in Liverpool’s rollercoaster 4-2 win over Bournemouth.
The teething problems for Arne Slot’s new-look side have been in stopping the flow of counter-attacks against them, but Liverpool should be stronger for the return of midfielder Ryan Gravenberch from suspension at St James’ Park.
Newcastle’s lack of firepower without Isak was exposed as they failed to break down 10-man Aston Villa in a goal-less draw on the opening weekend.
It has been another frustrating week for Eddie Howe in the transfer market as his attempts to land Brentford striker Yoane Wissa have stalled.
City’s 4-0 demolition of Wolves on the opening weekend sent a strong message of intent after a season to forget.
The visit of Spurs is a painful reminder of City’s fall from grace last season as Tottenham ran riot with a 4-0 victory at the Etihad in November, in the midst of a run of one win in 13 games for Pep Guardiola’s men.
Guardiola said his squad has been infused with “fresh energy” after new signings Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki and Rayan Ait-Nouri impressed at Molineux.
But a tougher test lies in wait against City’s bogey team of recent years.
Spurs have lost only one of their last four league visits to the Etihad and scored at least twice on every occasion.
New boss Thomas Frank has already shown his ability to adapt in very nearly masterminding a Uefa Super Cup victory over European champions Paris Saint-Germain before a late collapse.
Tottenham’s Premier League campaign also got off to a flier with a 3-0 win over Burnley.
Everton’s new season got off to a frustrating start in a late 1-0 defeat by Leeds.
But the hope of a bright future is the club’s new state-of-the-art home on Liverpool’s docklands.
After decades in the doldrums for one of England’s historically most successful clubs, Everton are banking on the Hill Dickinson Stadium to help bankroll a change in fortunes.
But the move from Goodison Park, which had been home of the Toffees since 1892, is also fraught with risk.
Goodison’s intimidating atmosphere played a big role in helping save Everton from the drop in a series of difficult seasons in recent years.
On the evidence of Monday’s defeat, the Blues need their new home to be just as much of a fortress to avoid an-other relegation scrap.
No Eze but Palace welcome new era on a bittersweet night
There were perhaps mixed emotions for Crystal Palace fans who were at Selhurst Park on Thursday night.
On the one hand there will have been excitement at seeing their side play European football for the first time in almost three decades, as well as making history with their first-ever win in Europe as they beat Fredrikstad 1-0 in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League play-off.
But on the other hand, it seemed many were resigned to the departure of the talismanic Eberechi Eze, with the midfielder absent from the squad as a move to Arsenal appears imminent. Supporters arrived wearing shirts with “Eze 10” on the back, while many had hand-drawn signs saying thank you to a player who had brought them countless magical moments on the pitch since his arrival from QPR five years ago.
After the win, manager Oliver Glasner confirmed Eze was on the verge of leaving the club.
“Ebs will not play for us anymore so it does not make sense to talk about him,” he told Channel 5.
“It’s gone. It looks like wishing him all the best for the new club and for us it is about bringing more players in but they will not be allowed to play in the second leg.”
Football quickly moves on and, after fans showed their support for Eze before kick-off on Thursday attention soon turned to Palace’s moment of history, as the players came out onto the pitch to the sound of fireworks and a celebratory atmosphere.
Palace last played in Europe 27 years ago, but that was the Intertoto Cup, a competition that was dubbed “The Cup for the Cupless” and largely perceived as worthless by British sides.
It was also not a memorable experience for Palace as they were beaten 4-0 over two legs by Turkish side Samsunspor.
But their latest venture holds the promise of feeling different.
History was made when Jean-Philippe Mateta headed in Palace’s first-ever European goal to give them the lead early in the second half.
The Conference League may not be the Europa League — the competition Palace were originally set to play in — but it still provides the prospect of an exciting European adventure for the club’s fans, and the potential for more significant silverware.
They will take heart from how fellow sides from London have previously fared in the competition, with West Ham and Chelsea two of the four Conference League winners so far.
Plus, in Glasner they have a manager who knows all about success in Europe, having won the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt in 2022.
“It is important taking the win, first win in Europe,” said the Palace boss.
“We are on track.” This is the latest chapter in what has been a memorable and eventful year for Crystal Palace fans.
Before kick-off on Thursday, the club proudly showed off the two trophies they have won in 2025 — the FA Cup and the Community Shield. That first triumph was the significant one, having ended the Eagles’ long wait for a first major trophy when they beat Manchester City in May.
They returned to Wembley three months later to win the Community Shield, overcoming reigning Premier League champions Liverpool to do so.
But in the three months between those visits to England’s national stadium there was still plenty of drama off the pitch.
Fixtures:
Today: Manchester City v Tottenham (1:30pm), Bournemouth v Wolves, Brentford v Aston Villa, Burnley v Sunder-land (all 4pm), Arsenal v Leeds (6:30pm)
Tomorrow: Everton v Brighton, Crystal Palace v Nottingham Forest (both 3pm), Fulham v Manchester United (5:30pm)
Monday: Newcastle v Liverpool (9pm). — AFP Sport.
