Alex Howell
BBC Sport Arsenal reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal are waiting to see if Kai Havertz is going to be on the sidelines for a period of time after the forward sustained a knee injury.

The 26-year-old was not part of the open training session held at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday and the injury is being assessed by the medical department.

Alex Howell
BBC Sport Arsenal reporter

Arsenal held an open training session at the Emirates Stadium with supporters able to watch their team train.

Ben White and Kai Havertz weren't in the initial section open training with reports now suggesting that Havertz has a knee injury.

White came off in the 71st minute against Manchester United on Sunday and Havertz started the game on the bench.

Image source, BBC Sport

Alex Keble
Football tactics writer

Image source, BBC Sport

Liverpool could deploy a squeezed 4-2-3-1, in which the nominal wingers Salah and Ekitike are so narrow they operate more as number 10s either side of Florian Wirtz, with the width then provided by two flying full-backs.

Jeremie Frimpong is a very attacking right-back, whose presence is likely to push Salah more infield anyway, while Ekitike tends to drop into 10-ish positions even when starting as a nine, as we see in the graphic below.

This system would allow for fluid movement among that trio of number 10s. For example, when one of Salah and Ekitike drifts wide the other would remain narrow alongside Wirtz, creating the box-shape (with Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch) that is so important in modern Premier League tactics.

At other moments, Ekitike or Salah may drive ahead into more of a centre-forward role next to Isak, in turn shuffling the box up a line, connecting with two number 10s behind them.

This is arguably the most dynamic formation Slot could use to get all four players into his starting XI - but it would be quite a departure from what went before.

Sophie Brown
BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Alexander Isak’s impact at Newcastle has been immense. Only he and Manchester City striker Erling Haaland have topped 20 Premier League goals in both the past two campaigns, with Isak’s tally of 23 last season second only to Mohamed Salah.

Isak’s 27 goals in all competitions in 2024-25 included the decisive one in the EFL Cup final that earned Newcastle their first silverware for 70 years and he was named in the PFA team of the year.

The Magpies’ lack of cutting edge at Aston Villa on Saturday without the Swedish international was evident – the visitors had 16 shots but just three were on target, with Anthony Elanga and Anthony Gordon both spurning decent chances.

However, life without Isak might not be as bleak as fans fear. While Newcastle have won fewer games and scored fewer goals without him, they have earned more points per game when he has been absent.

Isak scored on his Newcastle debut – ironically against Liverpool, the club he is desperate to join – and his stream of goals since then has been a key part of their recent success.

But the stats show that Eddie Howe is entitled to claim that Newcastle “are still a force” without their star striker – although there is no doubt they need to find a proven goalscorer to replace him.

Image source, Getty Images

Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has spoken on the Isak situation on the latest The Rest Is Football podcast.

In an episode released after the Isak statement but recorded beforehand, Shearer said: "Isak has three years left - you can't not train or play. You're being paid by the football club, and whatever hump you have with whoever, you still have a duty to other players because of that contract to go and train and play.

"There's a way of getting out of a football club, and refusing to train and play is not the right way."

Image source, Getty Images

With Alexander Isak looking likely to leave the club, Newcastle are in the hunt for a player who can get them the goals this season.

And they have reportedly identified Brentford's Yoane Wissa, who scored 12 goals in the Premier League last season, as a potential replacement.

The DR Congo forwards wants to join the Magpies and recently r, externalemoved all association with Brentford from his Instagram account.

But Northern Echo, external says Newcastle are unwilling to pay the £60m price tag that the Bees have slapped on the 28-year-old.

Eddie Howe's side are reportedly eyeing a deal worth no more than £40m for Wissa.

French Ligue 1

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

Marseille have placed Adrien Rabiot and Jonathan Rowe on the transfer list for "unacceptable behaviour" following last week's defeat at Rennes.

French midfielder Rabiot and former Norwich winger Rowe were reported to have been involved in a spat after the Ligue 1 fixture.

Marseille suffered a 1-0 loss at Roazhon Park despite Rennes being reduced to 10 men in the 26th minute.

Rowe, 22, was substituted in the 63rd minute while 30-year-old Rabiot played the full 90 minutes. RMC Sport, external said the pair were involved in a post-match altercation.

Marseille said in a statement that the decision to put the pair up for sale "was taken due to unacceptable behaviour in the dressing room" after the game.

Sami Mokbel and Ciaran Kelly

Eddie Howe made no bones about it at the weekend.

"It's not like we are looking at any other area," the Newcastle head coach said following his side's goalless draw against Aston Villa on Saturday.

Newcastle remain interested in Yoane Wissa but have not yet met Brentford's asking price of in excess of £40m.

The DR Congo forward, who was left out of the squad for Sunday's 3-1 loss at Nottingham Forest, wants to join Newcastle.

Although Jorgen Strand Larsen is among a small number of centre-forwards on Newcastle's radar, Wolves do not want to lose him.

Larsen, only completed a permanent move to Molineux last month after a successful loan spell in which he scored 14 goals in the Premier League.

Larsen and Wissa illustrate the difficulty Newcastle face, at this stage of the window, to convince a side to part with another key player.

It fell to Anthony Gordon to lead the line on the opening day and, as it stands, it would be a surprise if the winger did not start up top against Liverpool on Monday night.

Arsenal

Arsenal midfielder Mariona Caldentey was named the Professional Footballers' Association women's player of the year, with her new team-mate Olivia Smith picking up the young player award.

Caldentey, 29, scored 19 goals in 41 appearances in all competitions in her first season with the Gunners, following a move from Barcelona, including nine goals and five assists in the Women's Super League (WSL).

The Spain midfielder said "there is nothing better than when your opponents recognise your job" after picking up her first PFA award.

Caldentey told BBC Sport: "As a footballer, you want to win the trophies with the team and then when you are successful, this happens.

"It feels nice but I want to win trophies with the club."

Caldentey was also named in the best XI, alongside three England players - defenders Millie Bright and Maya Le Tissier, and striker Alessia Russo.

Liverpool

Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah won the Professional Footballers' Association men's player of the year award last night.

Salah, 33, is the first player to win the accolade on three occasions after playing a key role in Liverpool's title success last season.

The Egypt international was the Premier League's top scorer in 2024-25 - registering 29 times and providing 18 assists.

He was among a strong shortlist which included Alexander Isak - who was absent from the ceremony amid the ongoing conflict between him and Newcastle.

Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers was named young player of the year, while both Isak and Salah were named in the best XI.

As a guess, it's all part of the negotiation, Mark.

Given the lack of a release clause, Liverpool's first bid was never likely to be their best and final offer.

It was still for a borderline British record transfer fee, even if it was below Newcastle's valuation.

If they don't bid again then maybe Alexander Isak would have reason to be disappointed with Liverpool but until that point, I'm not sure why he would be.

Sami Mokbel and Ciaran Kelly

Image source, Getty Images

That remains a big 'if', of course.

Howe has been consistent in his messaging throughout this saga: the door remains open to Isak.

But the Newcastle head coach stressed what happens next is down to the striker, who continues to train away from the group.

In their statement on Tuesday night, Newcastle said: "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."

It certainly felt a long way back for Isak on Saturday after the away end called the Swede "greedy" following the goalless draw against Aston Villa.

Yet time is against Isak if he is to get a move to Liverpool, particularly when there are few realistic options left on the market who would be capable of stepping up for Newcastle.

Omar Chaudhuri, the chief intelligence officer of Twenty First Group, who previously worked with clubs like Newcastle and Tottenham, has noticed a "greater interest in top-class strikers" compared to years gone by.

"Globally, there have been seven centre forwards moving for 50m euros or more this window, compared to two in 2024, six in 2023, and five in 2022," he said.

"But clubs should probably temper expectations as to their impact. Of the 19 strikers signed by Premier League clubs for 50m euros or more before this season, perhaps, only Haaland and Isak can be considered unqualified successes."

No wonder Howe has maintained that the door is open.

Trying to, somehow, reintegrate Isak may yet prove one of Newcastle's better options - and that is saying something.