Liverpool's 20th league title awaits, WCL and FA Cup semis, and more
Good morning and welcome to the second of our matchday live blogs, teeing up all the day's action and bringing you insight from our various reporters across the grounds, as well as reaction from yesterday's action. Today all roads lead to Anfield and a likely 20th league title for Liverpool – if they can get at least a point against Tottenham Hotspur. At the same time (4.30pm BST) Manchester City and Nottingham Forest lock horns in the FA Cup semi-final to see who will meet Crystal Palace at Wembley next month. What a win it was for the Eagles over Aston Villa yesterday by the way …
There's also Bournemouth v Manchester United in the league at 2pm, plus the Women's Champions League semi-final second legs (Chelsea 1-4 Barcelona and Lyon 2-1 Arsenal is how they stand on aggregate) plus a smattering of other games. We'll be having a Q&A with our women's football correspondent Tom Garry later on.
Get your questions and emails in wherever you're soaking in today's football. On Friday we had Liverpool fans touching base from Bolivia. It's certainly a seismic day Reds all across the globe. Share
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Scottish Sun
18 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Six ways it could end up for Alexander Isak and Newcastle including dream Liverpool transfer and move to former rivals
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ALEXANDER ISAK has seen his relationship with Newcastle hit rock-bottom following a bombshell transfer statement. The striker is desperate to join Liverpool before deadline day, with SunSport exclusively revealing their plans for a record £130million swoop next week. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 There are six possible options for Alexander Isak this summer after his bombshell statement Credit: PA Isak blasted Toon last night, claiming that 'trust has been lost' while demanding his switch to Anfield. In response, Newcastle hit back by insisting the Swede will not be sold unless it is 'in the best interests' of the club. But just how will Isak's transfer showdown play out? Here, SunSport's Anthony Chapman examines six ways it could end for the Newcastle misfit… READ MORE IN FOOTBALL SPLASH THE REDDIES Liverpool approve record Isak transfer as Reds plot £165m double-deal SOLD TO LIVERPOOL The ideal ending for Isak is to get his move to Anfield. Liverpool are determined to sign him despite already landing Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz. But the Reds insist they will not pay beyond their means. The champs are happy to pay £130m, but if Newcastle demand a penny more it could scupper the entire move. BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS STRIKE FOR THE YEAR Isak has downed his tools and is refusing to train or play. That's despite having three years left on his contract. 'That bothers me' - Jamie Carragher tells Liverpool NOT to sign £150million Alexander Isak from Newcastle Betfair - Isak to sign before 2nd September 2025 Not to sign or agree a contract with any other club 4/6 Liverpool 8/11 Any Saudi Pro League Club 25/1 PSG 40/1 Arsenal 66/1 Real Madrid 66/1 Chelsea 66/1 Barcelona 80/1 Man United 100/1 If a move to Liverpool doesn't occur, it could see Isak rot in the reserves for at least the next 12 months. But once his year in solitary is over, the door would likely be open for him to finally quit - with clubs like Barcelona and Bayern Munich possibly needing a new striker next summer. RESOLVE AND PAY RISE Newcastle's dream ending, for the players AND Howe. The only way back for Isak, in the eyes of fans, is to sign a new contract. That would reaffirm his commitment to the club. But it would likely end his chances of ever leaving in a big-money move. Shearer's thoughts on Isak Alan Shearer told The Rest Is Football podcast: 'Isak's got three years left. You can't not train or play. You're being paid by the football club. 'Whatever reason, whatever hump you've got, you still have a duty to the other players because of that contract, and to the football club, to go and train and go and play. 'There's a way of getting out of a football club, and refusing to train and play is not the right way.' When asked by Gary Lineker if Isak's situation mirrored that of Alexander-Arnold in his final months at Anfield, Shearer replied: 'You can't compare them at all. 'Trent came to the end of his contract, he didn't refuse to play, he didn't refuse to train. 'And then was well within his rights to leave. Isak's got three years left on his contract. It doesn't take a genius to work that out. 'I sat down with him five, six months ago and I didn't see this in him. I thought he was a manager's dream, the way he spoke.' 'So obviously something has massively upset him and we don't know that. But those two circumstances, Trent and Isak, are totally different.' STAY A YEAR, SELL TO NON-RIVAL Another solution could be for Isak to put aside his issues and agree to stay for a year. This would then see Newcastle sell the Swede next summer at a set price. However, the door may only be open to a non-rival club in order for Toon to protect their interests in the Premier League. One past example was Luka Modric's move from Tottenham to Real Madrid in 2012, when the previous year saw him push to join London rivals Chelsea. Isak to Liverpool transfer saga timeline JANUARY: First links to Liverpool emerge FEBRUARY: 150million record fee mooted MARCH: Isak denies Newcastle contract talk APRIL: Edd Howe hails Isak as 'very professional.' MAY: Howe insists Isak will not be sold Howe insists Isak will not be sold Last match in Newcastle shirt JUNE: Transfer links to Liverpool heat up JULY: Flies with Newcastle for Austria training camp Flies with Newcastle for Austria training camp Left out of Celtic friendly Liverpool hijack Toon's Hugo Ekitike deal after making Isak enquiry Doesn't travel for pre-season tour of Singapore and South Korea, citing injury AUGUST: Training by himself at Newcastle Training by himself at Newcastle Liverpool have £110m bid rejected Isak stops training and goes on strike Moves out of his apartment Releases angry statement blasting 'trust has been lost' Newcastle respond by insisting he won't be sold unless it benefits club SAUDI TRANSFER The oil-rich clubs of the Middle East are always on the hunt for a big name. And many are sure to be watching from the sideline in case Isak opens the door to a switch late on. The wages on offer could certainly make it a tempting offer if there are no other options on the table. But Toon's ownership by Saudi's PIF, who are also in charge of most of their nation's top clubs, means they would not be able to use the Isak money to balance PSR and Financial Fair Play numbers. LOAN EXIT A final way out for Isak could be a temporary one. A loan move would allow him and Newcastle to part ways and put their issues on hold for one season. Then next summer, the two parties can meet with all cards already on the table. Victor Osimhen had a similar situation last year as he eventually moved from Napoli to Galatasaray, while Marcus Rashford ditched Man Utd for Aston Villa before joining Barcelona.
Daily Mirror
19 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Hidden Alexander Isak transfer clause that could complicate Liverpool move further
Alexander Isak has broken his silence after becoming embroiled in a transfer saga involving Liverpool, with Newcastle issuing a response, though one contractual clause could further complicate things Newcastle's Alexander Isak has broken his silence as his Liverpool transfer saga continues. Though a clause in the 25-year-old's contract concerning former club Real Sociedad could throw yet another spanner into the works. The Swedish striker made it clear last month that he wanted to explore his options away from St James' Park, and while the Reds did submit a £110million bid, this fell well below Newcastle's valuation. A stalemate has since been met, with Isak refusing to play for the club, and the Magpies insisting he is not for sale and will remain on Tyneside unless an adequate offer is made. On Tuesday, Isak spoke for the first time since the drama unfolded, explaining his absence from the Professional Footballers' Association's awards gala. Newcastle issued a telling reply, as the possibility of an agreement with Liverpool remains up in the air, though a sell-on clause inserted into the 25-year-old's contract could further complicate matters. Isak's statement was damning. In light of this increasingly noxious disagreement, the star striker, who has been training away from Newcastle's first team, claimed promises had been broken. "I've kept quiet for a long time while others have spoken," wrote Isak. "That silence has allowed people to push their own version of events, even though they know it doesn't reflect what was really said and agreed behind closed doors. "The reality is that promises were made and the club has known my position for a long time. To now act as if these issues are only emerging is misleading. "When promises are broken and trust is lost, the relationship can't continue. That's where things are for me right now - and why change is in the best interests of everyone, not just myself." Yet, a deal for Isak would be complicated. The Reds' £110m package was swiftly rebuked, and it is thought that Isak is valued at a whopping £150m. Nevertheless, it seems a British record transfer fee is what it would take to secure his services. Adding further complications is a sell-on clause that was inserted in Isak's deal when he moved to Newcastle from Real Sociedad in 2022. The Swede arrived in England for a fee of £63m, and a 10 per cent capital gains clause was attached to his deal, as per the Athletic. This clause would see the Spanish side receive that percentage of any profits made from the future sale of Isak. Should he be sold for £150m, for example, this would see a sum of £8.7m go to Spain. Such a stipulation could cause Newcastle to demand an even higher price for Isak, and Liverpool could have to pay extra to ensure the Magpies receive a final sum they are satisfied with. As their reply to Isak's statement suggests, Newcastle themselves do not see a deal being completed this window. It read: "We are clear in response that Alex remains under contract and that no commitment has ever been made by a club official that Alex can leave Newcastle United this summer. We want to keep our best players, but we also understand players have their own wishes and we listen to their views. "As explained to Alex and his representatives, we must always take into consideration the best interests of Newcastle United, the team and our supporters in all decisions and we have been clear that the conditions of a sale this summer have not transpired. "We do not foresee those conditions being met. This is a proud football club with proud traditions and we strive to retain our family feel. Alex remains part of our family and will be welcomed back when he is ready to rejoin his team-mates." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
The Sun
19 minutes ago
- The Sun
Six ways it could end up for Alexander Isak and Newcastle including dream Liverpool transfer and move to former rivals
ALEXANDER ISAK has seen his relationship with Newcastle hit rock-bottom following a bombshell transfer statement. The striker is desperate to join Liverpool before deadline day, with SunSport exclusively revealing their plans for a record £130million swoop next week. 1 Isak blasted Toon last night, claiming that 'trust has been lost' while demanding his switch to Anfield. In response, Newcastle hit back by insisting the Swede will not be sold unless it is 'in the best interests' of the club. But just how will Isak's transfer showdown play out? Here, SunSport's Anthony Chapman examines six ways it could end for the Newcastle misfit… SOLD TO LIVERPOOL The ideal ending for Isak is to get his move to Anfield. Liverpool are determined to sign him despite already landing Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz. But the Reds insist they will not pay beyond their means. The champs are happy to pay £130m, but if Newcastle demand a penny more it could scupper the entire move. STRIKE FOR THE YEAR Isak has downed his tools and is refusing to train or play. That's despite having three years left on his contract. If a move to Liverpool doesn't occur, it could see Isak rot in the reserves for at least the next 12 months. But once his year in solitary is over, the door would likely be open for him to finally quit - with clubs like Barcelona and Bayern Munich possibly needing a new striker next summer. RESOLVE AND PAY RISE Newcastle's dream ending, for the players AND Howe. The only way back for Isak, in the eyes of fans, is to sign a new contract. That would reaffirm his commitment to the club. But it would likely end his chances of ever leaving in a big-money move. Shearer's thoughts on Isak Alan Shearer told The Rest Is Football podcast: 'Isak's got three years left. You can't not train or play. You're being paid by the football club. 'Whatever reason, whatever hump you've got, you still have a duty to the other players because of that contract, and to the football club, to go and train and go and play. 'There's a way of getting out of a football club, and refusing to train and play is not the right way.' When asked by Gary Lineker if Isak's situation mirrored that of Alexander-Arnold in his final months at Anfield, Shearer replied: 'You can't compare them at all. 'Trent came to the end of his contract, he didn't refuse to play, he didn't refuse to train. 'And then was well within his rights to leave. Isak's got three years left on his contract. It doesn't take a genius to work that out. 'I sat down with him five, six months ago and I didn't see this in him. I thought he was a manager's dream, the way he spoke.' 'So obviously something has massively upset him and we don't know that. But those two circumstances, Trent and Isak, are totally different.' STAY A YEAR, SELL TO NON-RIVAL Another solution could be for Isak to put aside his issues and agree to stay for a year. This would then see Newcastle sell the Swede next summer at a set price. However, the door may only be open to a non-rival club in order for Toon to protect their interests in the Premier League. One past example was Luka Modric's move from Tottenham to Real Madrid in 2012, when the previous year saw him push to join London rivals Chelsea. SAUDI TRANSFER The oil-rich clubs of the Middle East are always on the hunt for a big name. And many are sure to be watching from the sideline in case Isak opens the door to a switch late on. The wages on offer could certainly make it a tempting offer if there are no other options on the table. But Toon's ownership by Saudi's PIF, who are also in charge of most of their nation's top clubs, means they would not be able to use the Isak money to balance PSR and Financial Fair Play numbers. LOAN EXIT A final way out for Isak could be a temporary one. A loan move would allow him and Newcastle to part ways and put their issues on hold for one season. Then next summer, the two parties can meet with all cards already on the table. Victor Osimhen had a similar situation last year as he eventually moved from Napoli to Galatasaray, while Marcus Rashford ditched Man Utd for Aston Villa before joining Barcelona.
