Premier League

Shamoon Hafez
Football reporter

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Manchester City have four senior goalkeepers on their books, with summer signing James Trafford starting the two Premier League games so far.

The 22-year-old was unconvincing in Saturday's 2-0 home defeat by Tottenham, with Ederson watching from the substitutes' bench.

Like Manuel Akanji, the Brazil international has been of heavy interest to Galatasaray, but no deal has yet been agreed between the two clubs.

Ederson would need to leave if City were to sign Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris St-Germain, but club sources have denied personal terms have been agreed with the Italy number one.

There is an expectation that Stefan Ortega will leave the club by Monday's deadline, but is it understood the German is not close to an exit at this stage.

Meanwhile, could midfielder Ilkay Gundogan - who was left out of the Spurs game for tactical reasons - be another who departs? City are likely to explore any offers that may come in for the 34-year-old.

Manager Pep Guardiola has said Savinho is out injured at the moment, and it is not known whether Spurs and City officials had discussions over the winger on Saturday, having held talks earlier in the transfer window.

What is known is that City do not want to sell the Brazilian, and it would need a significant offer to consider doing so.

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Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

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Wolves have no desire to sell Jorgen Strand Larsen after rejecting Newcastle United's £50m bid.

The limited time they have to sign a replacement, with the transfer window closing on Monday, and the current prices are factors in their thinking.

Newcastle is an attractive option but the striker has remained professional and could start in the EFL Cup against West Ham at Molineux on Tuesday.

It is in contrast to Alexander Isak's position at St James' Park, with the forward not playing and trying to force a move to Liverpool, leaving Newcastle desperately trying to sign a replacement.

Strand Larsen only made his move to Molineux from Celta Vigo permanent for £23m this summer after scoring 14 goals in 30 Premier League starts on loan last season.

Wolves have lost their opening two games without scoring and are looking to sign another striker.

Getafe's Christantus Uche is a target and the forward played in a 2-1 La Liga win at Sevilla on Monday.

Watch BBC Senior football correspondent Sami Mokbel discuss the potential outgoings from Manchester United in the remaining week of the summer transfer window.

"They've done a lot of business bringing players in but getting players out is proving very difficult," he told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.

"That will be the priority for Manchester United between now and Monday - trying to recalibrate the finances. But, its easier said than done."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds

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Former Liverpool goalkeeper David James says "it's good that they are winning" but added the Reds "look a bit vulnerable at times".

Liverpool have begun their title defence with two wins and sit third in the table after thrilling victories over Bournemouth and Newcastle.

James told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast: "Arne [Slot] has got some thinking and sorting out to do because a few things cropped up in the three games - if you include the [Community Shield] game against Crystal Palace.

"Aerially you would think Liverpool were going to be dominant with Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate in there, but they look a little bit vulnerable at times. It's good that they are winning but there is still room for Arne to do some work."

The Reds have conceded four goals in their opening two Premier League games of a season for the first time since 2016-17.

Against Newcastle, they let in two goals while their opponents have been down to 10 men in a league match for the first time since December 2001 when they faced Arsenal.

Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi has been linked with a move to Anfield before the transfer deadline, with his current contract at Selhurst Park expiring at the end of this season.

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Matt Hobbs
BBC Sport journalist

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Are Tyler Dibling and Everton the perfect match?

Such was his impact for Southampton during the first half of his debut Premier League season, he was hailed as a generational talent and linked with a £100m move to top-six clubs.

Fast forward seven months and the 19-year-old has been the subject of multiple rejected bids, before finally being signed by Everton for significantly less.

So are the Toffees getting a bargain for a young player with a high ceiling, or was Dibling overhyped in the early stages of a campaign which produced just two Premier League goals and no assists?

First, the teenage talent only has two years left on his current contract, meaning the astronomical price tag mentioned in January has subsequently reduced.

Dibling, who made his Premier League debut under former Saints boss Russell Martin in August last year, also suffered from a drop-off in form in the second half of 2024-25.

This can be partly attributed to the sacking of Martin in December and the subsequent shift to a more defensive approach under Ivan Juric and then Simon Rusk - a style of play simply not suited to Dibling's attacking instincts.

But there is no doubt he is a signing based predominantly on potential. Martin, himself, admitted the England Under-21 international "needs the right kind of style and environment to thrive".

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Anthony Gordon has posted an apology on his Instagram, external story following his red card in Newcastle's 3-2 home defeat by Liverpool on Monday.

The England forward was dismissed in first-half stoppage time after an on-pitch VAR review for a late lunge on Reds defender Virgil van Dijk.

He will now be suspended for the Magpies' next three matches.

Gordon also apologised directly to Van Dijk, who had clear stud marks visible down his calf as a result of the challenge.

The message read: "I want to sincerely apologise to my team-mates and the fans. My intentions were pure. I was just trying to create energy in the game and I mistimed the tackle.

"I also want to apologise to Virgil. I would never intend to tackle somebody like this on purpose. We spoke after and he knows that.

"More importantly, I'm so proud of the time I spent on the pitch and how we played. The atmosphere from you all is what makes St James' Park so special.

"I love everything we stand for as a club and no more than right now. I'll be back and better, the same as every other setback I've ever faced. See you soon."

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Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

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No-one could accuse Manchester United defender Patrick Dorgu of setting conservative targets for the club.

Asked for United's targets as he spoke before Sunday's 1-1 draw at Fulham, Dorgu's message was clear: "One hundred percent we are aiming to win the Premier League. We are Manchester United, so that's always going to be our goal."

It could be argued United's chances of winning the title were not reduced by the result at Craven Cottage as they had no realistic chance of being champions anyway.

Yet Dorgu's comments underline the aspirations at Old Trafford remain the same, even though it is over a decade now since United last won the Premier League – and they have not even challenged for the title since.

The stated aim this season – privately and publicly – is to secure a return to European competition.

And while one point from two games is not an ideal start, there is a genuine sense of optimism, helped partly by the £50m training ground revamp.

"The facilities help," said Dorgu. "I think new signings have helped as well.

"They bring a lot of good energy and quality into the group.

"Everyone has a point to prove this season. We need to get back to Europe, so we need to stick together, be happy and positive and try to do what the coach asks."

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Where the goals will come from has been a concern over the summer at Wolves - and the subject of several questions to come in via our 'Ask about Wolves' form.

They scored 63 last season but lost just over half - 32 - before this campaign, with Matheus Cunha (17), Goncalo Guedes (five), Rayan Ait-Nouri (five), Pablo Sarabia (three), Tommy Doyle (one) and Mario Lemina (one) all leaving.

Christantus Uche, Getafe's young striker, is expected to arrive at Molineux to provide some back-up, but more is likely to be needed.

Jorgen Strand Larsen is a good option and his 14 goals in 30 league starts last season was a good return in a debut season. However, he needs help.

Vitor Pereira wanted at least three more players before the season. Wolves have added right-back Jackson Tchatchoua from Verona, while Uche is expected to be the second.

Uche is just 22 and therefore still developing, so it would be wrong to expect him to score 20 goals. He only got four for Getafe in 2024-25.

Uche did net in the 2-0 win at Celta Vigo last week, but he is not at the level to fill Cunha's boots.

Wolves are not going to spend the type of money which is going to land them a proven Premier League scorer, so they need to come up with alternatives.

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Ciaran Kelly
Football reporter

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What a time this is for Hugo Ekitike to be making his first visit to St James' Park after Liverpool won the race, ahead of Newcastle United, to sign the French forward last month.

Ekitike is a player Magpies boss Eddie Howe knows well and, without blinking, he can reel off a concise scouting report: really good movement, intelligent, good in the air, scores goals off both feet. That was the lowdown. That was why Newcastle wanted him.

"There's no doubt I really like Hugo and have done for a number of years," Howe said. "He was someone we tracked for a long time."

That is an understatement.

In fact, Newcastle attempted to sign Ekitike on three separate occasions over a three-and-a-half-year period.

The Magpies made their first move in January 2022 when Ekitike was not exactly a household name.

But the 23-year-old always had immense potential.

Few know that better than former Brighton manager Oscar Garcia, who worked with Ekitike at Reims at the time.

"You do not find many strikers like him at that age," Garcia recently told Sky Sports.

"He is tall, fast, mobile, very good one against one, holds the ball and scores goals. He can fit with teams that play more on the counter-attack, but also with teams with more possession because he has the skill for both styles.

"Hugo knows which aspects he can improve on, but he also needs help to develop his potential to reach the level that all the people who know him believe he can reach."

Newcastle were not alone among Premier League clubs in recognising those qualities, however.

Liverpool had also been tracking Ekitike for some time after the striker rediscovered his spark at Eintracht Frankfurt following a frustrating spell at Paris St-Germain.

Newcastle may have made the opening offer to Eintracht last month, but Ekitike had his sights set on a £69m move to Anfield after previously speaking to Reds boss Arne Slot.

It proved a significant moment in the transfer window. In more ways than one.

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Ciaran Kelly
Football reporter

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There can be little doubt that Liverpool's signing of Hugo Ekitike had a knock-on effect on the Alexander Isak saga.

If Newcastle had signed Ekitike, the club would have had a potential successor already in the building and time left to bring in an additional striker to replace Callum Wilson, who left last month.

However, having also subsequently missed out on Benjamin Sesko, who joined Manchester United, Newcastle are facing a race against the clock to recruit even one centre-forward before the close of business on 1 September – let alone two.

No wonder the club do not foresee the "conditions" of Isak's sale being met in the final throes of the window.

And that is before mentioning the prospect of Liverpool making an improved bid for Isak that actually gives Newcastle a decision to make, when the Magpies have held firm to date.

Arne Slot, understandably, would not be drawn on the possibility of the Anfield club returning to the table for Isak.

But the Liverpool manager appreciates what lies in wait at St James' Park - regardless of the backdrop to the game.

Newcastle's victory over Liverpool in last season's Carabao Cup final underlines the size of the visitors' task on Tyneside.

"It's nothing to do with anything that's in the media," Slot said. "If you go to Newcastle, you know what to expect.

"We played them three times last season and their intensity levels were twice above ours. In the away game [a 3-3 draw in December], especially the first 60 minutes, they were so intense. They fully deserved the lead, and in the League Cup final they were more intense than us.

"So I don't think they need anything to add if they play at St James' Park."

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

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It will be fascinating to see how the next week plays out for Manchester United.

Of the 'bomb squad', most expect Alejandro Garnacho to end up at Chelsea and Antony to secure a return to Real Betis - but negotiations for both will not be straightforward.

Tyrell Malacia has been attracting interest from Serie A, while there is a suspicion Roma might come back in for Jadon Sancho.

Napoli are expected to make a renewed attempt to bring in Rasmus Hojlund, who was again left out of Ruben Amorim's squad for the Premier League draw at Fulham.

And then we have Senne Lammens, who United are negotiating with Royal Antwerp over but with uncertainty remaining over whether the deal will happen or who, if anyone, will leave if it does.

Everton started Premier League life at their magnificent new stadium on the banks of the River Mersey with their first victory of the season against Brighton.

And it was fitting that goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, such a significant figure in keeping Everton in the Premier League in recent seasons, played a key role with the late penalty save from Danny Welbeck that snuffed out any Albion hopes of a late revival.

Rob Green and Troy Deeney broke down Pickford's process of saving the penalty on Sunday's Match of the Day...

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Match of the Day pundits Rob Green and Troy Deeney criticised the "dubious" VAR decisions that the officials got "the wrong way round" in Fulham's 1-1 draw with Manchester United.

United were awarded a penalty on Sunday when Calvin Bassey dragged Mason Mount to the ground in the 33rd minute at Craven Cottage.

The foul was not given on the field but referee Chris Kavanagh was sent to the screen by the video assistant referee and the decision was overturned.

Bruno Fernandes blazed the spot-kick over the bar, but the penalty award left some watching perplexed, given United full-back Luke Shaw appeared to commit a very similar foul just yards away on Fulham's Rodrigo Muniz at the same time.

Ruben Amorim's side went on to take the lead in the 58th minute from a corner, with Leny Yoro's header deflecting off Muniz.

As the ball came in, though, Yoro appeared to push Bassey in the back with both hands, but this time VAR did not intervene.

At first glance, the penalty decision is a simple one with Bassey grabbing Mount and throwing him to the ground.

Given the Premier League's stated aim to crackdown on pulling and holding at corners this season, in part brought in to help avoid time being wasted by referees delaying set-pieces being taken to warn the players involved, it was no surprise it was given.

The complication comes from the fact Shaw also seemed to be grabbing Muniz, just behind the Bassey and Mount incident.

The United left-back had both arms wrapped around the Fulham forward and both ended up on the ground.

But the penalty was still awarded because Bassey was deemed to have committed a foul first.

Read more on why United's goal and penalty was given here

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Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

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Midfielder Kobbie Mainoo was an unused substitute on Sunday as Manchester United drew with Fulham at Craven Cottage.

When United boss Ruben Amorim made changes during the game, the first was to drop Mason Mount into a deeper role for Casemiro as Benjamin Sesko came on. Then Manuel Ugarte replaced Mount as United looked for a winner.

Mainoo seems to have slipped back quite a way since his 2023-24 breakthrough campaign under Erik ten Hag, when he scored in the FA Cup final and started for England in the Euro 2024 final.

Judging by who the 20-year-old is in direct competition with in the United squad, according to Amorim, the midfielder might be in for a frustrating few weeks.

"He's fighting for the position now with Bruno [Fernandes]," said the Portuguese.

"I changed two midfielders. I left Mason Mount there because we wanted to score a goal - and when I changed again, I felt the team needed to return to one holding midfielder near Bruno.

"He just needs to fight for the position with Bruno, as it should be at Manchester United. He will play with Bruno [as well] but, at the moment, he's fighting in training with Bruno for the position."

Unless Fernandes is moved into one of the number 10 roles new signings Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo presently occupy, it is difficult to see Amorim dropping his captain.

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Former Premier League midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker says Everton will need "to be more adventurous" in their playing style if they are to get the best out of Jack Grealish.

The on-loan summer signing shone in the game at the new Hill Dickinson Stadium and registered two assists as the Blues beat Brighton 2-0.

There is wide-scale hope that Grealish can get his career back on track under David Moyes and there were some very promising signs on Sunday.

"If you look at Moyes and his history as a manager, then you will know he always plays to his strengths," said Reo-Coker on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"Grealish works hard off the ball, but to get the best out of him then you need him high up the pitch.

"That means Moyes might need to encourage his team to be more adventurous and play a riskier high line. They did that and got caught out twice but wasteful Brighton didn't take their opportunity.

"That is the risk you have to take because it meant you had Grealish at his best with freedom on the left-hand side.

"Brighton also had to double up on him, which created opportunities and openings for other players."

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Matty Renton
Fan writer

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Jordan Chamberlain, Liverpool fan writer

Liverpool are in a tricky situation. Despite apparently 'winning the transfer window' with monster deals for Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike and others, the Reds are going into the second weekend of the season worryingly short in attack.

We've sold Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz, while tragically losing Diogo Jota. Ekitike doesn't cover all three. Liverpool have seemingly put all our eggs into Alexander Isak's basket. While the striker is desperate to come, Newcastle United, who have failed in all their attempts to buy replacements, have doubled down on their going nowhere stance.

Liverpool usually wait to get the right player instead of buying stopgaps. And for this reason, I see Isak signing in January. The situation mirrors Coutinho's exit to Barcelona in 2018. The Brazilian feigned a back injury and did everything he could to leave the summer previous, but with Liverpool not prepared for his sale, they simply said no. Then, the Reds prepared for his departure and used him well for five months before cashing in. I expect the same thing to happen with the Swede, although reintegration at St. James' Park will be tougher given his scorched earth Instagram statement.

As for Monday's game against the Magpies? Gulp. There is literally no harder game for Liverpool on planet earth right now given the ferocity with which their players and fans will approach it. I'm praying for no injuries.

Find more from Jordan Chamberlain at Empire of the Kop, external

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

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Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella has confirmed that his contract extension is "done".

The 27-year-old started Chelsea's 5-1 win away at West Ham amid pre-match rumours that he signed on improved terms at Stamford Bridge.

There has yet to be any official announcement about Cucurella's new contract, whith his previous deal set to expire in 2028.

However, when asked by Spanish media at London Stadium, Cucurella said: "Yes, it's done. We already did it.

"I'm very happy, the club gave me the confidence and I'm very happy to be here. Hopefully I will have a great year."

Cucurella delivered seven goals and four assists in all competitions last season as the Blues won the Club World Cup and Conference League while qualifying for the Champions League through a fourth-placed finish in the Premier League.

Meanwhile, after victory in the London derby on Friday, fellow defender Trevoh Chalobah says Chelsea have the squad to challenge for big titles.

He added: "I think definitely. By having a strong squad like that, with Champions League and Premier League, in different positions then everyone is going to be important to achieve something big."

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We asked for your views on the news surrounding Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis and manager Nuno Espirito Santo, with the latter's future at the club now uncertain.

Here are some of your comments:

Peter: I know our owner is erratic, but this is difficult to fathom. I just hope they can get over this, as it would be a disaster at this stage of the season when everything looked so hopeful.

Dave: Whatever internal dispute is going on, it shouldn't be aired in public like this. It would be a mistake to get rid of Nuno, and it seems like terrible timing. Both men need to sit down and settle this. No-one is bigger than the club, not even Marinakis.

Stuart: When are the money men going to forget their personal ego and let the professionals do their job?

Gavin: This shows everything about who Maranakis is. The manager who got Forest back into the Premier League - fired with barely a thank you. Now, Nuno, who produced the best season this club has had in nearly 30 years, is being sidelined because apparently the owner cannot sustain a relationship with another person. It's a disgrace.

Andrew: Why do clubs that are successful press the self-destruct button?

Listen to the thoughts of BBC Radio Nottingham's Colin Fray on BBC Sounds

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Liverpool boss Arne Slot says the "bar we've set" by winning the Premier League title means his team will come under more scrutiny this season.

After letting Bournemouth back into the game when 2-0 up in the opening match last Friday, the Reds' defence came in for criticism.

Liverpool's full-backs were singled out for playing too high, while central defenders Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate were also questioned for their roles in the goals.

"Of course that has something to do with the bar we've set, and I agree we were at some moments too open," said Slot.

"The first goal was, I think, mainly unlucky that we lost the ball in a position we shouldn't lose it and then we were three against three, which is normally not a problem but we had a disadvantage to our opponent.

"Second goal is definitely being too open, If all your three midfielders are inside the box, that's too open.

"But also the reason why we scored [to make it] 3-2 was one of our midfielders, Curtis Jones, arrived in the box and made it difficult for the goalkeeper, and the ball fell to Federico [Chiesa].

"So, it's also who we are but we need to find the right balance by not being too open."

The return of midfielder Ryan Gravenberch should help provide more protection for the defence when Liverpool face Newcastle on Monday night, having been so key in the 2024-25 title win.

"I've watched the game back twice and I don't think - apart from the two goals - there were many other counter-attacks from Bournemouth, but if it leads to a goal it's of course a big story," he added.

"For us, conceding two - that's too much in a home game, that's too open.

"If you look back at last season, every time he played Ryan would have been in that position."

Ciaran Kelly
Newcastle United reporter

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You suspect Eddie Howe will be glad to see the back of this draining transfer window.

"I will be pleased when it's here," the Newcastle United head coach said in his pre-match news conference. "If we have what we want."

That remains a big if, of course.

With just a week and a half left until deadline day, there is no doubt what Newcastle want. And that is a quality replacement for Callum Wilson.

Finding one has proved difficult, of course, since Wilson left the club last month at the end of his contract, and the Magpies have had multiple bids rejected for Brentford star Yoane Wissa.

The Wissa pursuit illustrates the challenge the club have faced to recruit one striker – let alone an additional centre-forward capable of filling Alexander Isak's sizeable boots.

Isak may want out – the Swede has repeatedly made that clear – but Newcastle do not foresee the "conditions of sale" being met given the lack of viable alternatives available.

And that is before even addressing the possibility of Liverpool even making the sort of offer that actually gives Newcastle a decision to make.

Where does that leave the Tyneside club? In a "lose-lose" situation as far as Howe is concerned.

Either Newcastle lose Isak with so little time left in the window to find a worthy replacement or they are left with a wantaway player who has to, somehow, be reintegrated.

It is rather telling that Howe has not spoken to Isak since his explosive statement on Tuesday night, but the head coach has been consistent throughout this saga that the door remains open to the striker.

Howe even recognised on Friday that there are "two sides to every story" before going on to make the distinction between the "regrettable" situation and Isak's daily conduct during his three years at the club.

Isak may have made his feelings clear but, clearly, Howe has not given up on the 25-year-old one day playing for the club again.

Even if that feels like a distant prospect right now.

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Jordan Chamberlain
Fan writer

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It's not an easy answer. In many ways, the conversation itself ruins the fun of it anyway. When the song first popped up at the beginning of last season, it was used sparingly given Federico Chiesa barely played; then in an almost tongue in cheek fashion, given how little Arne Slot seemed to rate the Italian.

There was an element to it which was a bit silly. Like, 'Look how much we're going for it for a footballer who doesn't even play'. It wasn't mocking Chiesa, but it was much more about the fun of being a Liverpool fan than anything else.

This all changed on Friday night on Premier League Opening Day of course when Chiesa's goal won us the game versus Bournemouth and the rendition was at it's most deserved and brilliant.

I was at the Premier League title-winning parade and it got sung more than Mo Salah's tune. It's just very fun to bounce along to. It's a really, really good football chant, with no context considered.

Is it offensive? I don't really think Liverpool fans are the right people to ask. Ask Juventus fans. If Juve supporters hear the lyrics, 'You can hear them crying in Turin,' and '**** off Juve, I'm a Kopite now,' and feel some anger or hurt, that is their right. Just like it's not for non-Liverpool fans to claim the 'Victims' chant isn't offensive. If I heard a supporters group for Juve speak out against it, I would be less comfortable singing it.

I think intention is key here. When the song started, it was made up by young lads who were not around 40 years ago when Heysel happened. There is no intention at all to reference that disaster in a mocking way - and the fact Chiesa himself said he loved the song and joined in at the end of last season suggests there is no ambition to hurt. Liverpool fans of a younger age shouldn't necessarily carry a guilt from Heysel, but this doesn't mean the song hasn't offended Juve fans at the same time.

I probably won't sing it anymore, because the discussion has tarnished its good-humoured essence anyway. Many will, which is their right.

Find more from Jordan Chamberlain at Empire of the Kop, external

Chris Howard
Fan writer

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Perhaps if Shakespeare were still alive, even he couldn't have predicted the whirlwind 24 hours that Arsenal fans experienced this week, as we finally got 'our boy' back home with us, following weeks of speculation and what felt like resignation at the prospect of him joining the most local (and disliked) of rivals in Tottenham Hotspur.

But here we are, with one of the most rapid hijack moves since a certain Emmanuel Petit had Spurs pay his cab fare to Arsene's house all those years ago.

This is far more than bragging rights, however, because in Eberechi Eze, Arsenal, and Mikel Arteta have a key component part solved in how they will counter the suffocating low-block football that they came up against time and time again against last season.

The brief was clear at the start of the summer: more directness, more attempts, more chaos. We need goals. We need a different approach. Arteta needs more clubs in his metaphorical golf set. Noni Madueke fits that bill when you look at his style and statistics, Viktor Gyokeres too, but Eze completes the set. His arrival could have the potential to truly 'unlock' Arsenal and those team-mates around him. His ability on the ball, his eye for a goal, his link-up play and versatility; it's all there. And the bonus part? He's an Arsenal fan. A rejected youth scholar returns a man to fulfil a dream that had been decades in the making.

Shakespeare didn't write footballing fairytale stories, but if he did, they probably wouldn't be far off this particular transfer.

Wayne Rooney doesn't think "there is any way back for Alexander Isak at Newcastle" and if he was one of his team-mates then he wouldn't want him to be re-integrated either.

The clock on the transfer window is counting down but Isak remains in the North East despite going on strike and penning a strong Instagram post about moving on.

"If I'm a Newcastle player, I don't want Isak back," Rooney said on the BBC's Wayne Rooney Show. "I think if players leave football clubs - and that happens all the time - there's a way to go about it.

"You can't go on strike, can't not turn up for training and train with your team-mates.

"If you want to leave the club or not, you have to be there for your team-mates and be ready if needed. So I think if I was a player I wouldn't want him back.

"He's deserted you. He doesn't want to be there, he doesn't want to be your team-mate. So I wouldn't want him back.

"Now, Newcastle aren't happy with Isak's behaviour because Liverpool want to sign him. But then on the flip side of that, Newcastle are trying to sign Yoane Wissa who's behaving the exact same way at Brentford.

"I remember Anthony Gordon not playing for Everton because he wanted to go to Newcastle. So you can't have it both ways.

"But in terms of Isak's team-mates, I wouldn't want him back. Once you've overstepped the mark I think it's very difficult to come back in.

"You can ask to leave a football club - that happens - or the club tell you you're leaving. But you have to be professional.

"You've got friends in there who you play with, you have fans who are paying a lot of money to support and you can't just walk out on it. And if they're going to do it once, they'll do it again.

"For me, I don't think there's any way back for Isak at Newcastle. I think there are cases where it can happen, but from me as a person, don't think I could accept them back."

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Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport Senior Journalist

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Pre-season is usually a time for optimism among football fans – hopes and dreams that are often sent crashing back down to earth by an unfavourable result on the opening day.

Not many fanbases would actually become more optimistic after losing their first game 4-2 – but Bournemouth's performance at Anfield on Friday showed that Andoni Iraola's side are still capable of going toe-to-toe with the best sides in the division, in what was (on paper at least) their most difficult game of the season.

Clearly both teams were still integrating new players, and Bournemouth might envy the transfer fees Liverpool were able to pay in order to do so. But new Cherries left-back Adrien Truffert immediately looked at home in an Iraola side, arguably outshining his predecessor Milos Kerkez, who had a difficult start to his Liverpool career – given the runaround by two-goal Antoine Semenyo, yellow-carded before half-time and substituted on the hour.

A new-look back four also featured Bafode Diakite, barely 48 hours after signing from Lille. The French centre-back would be forgiven for barely knowing his team-mates' names as he was thrown straight into the cauldron of Anfield, but he displayed plenty of energy and showed he likes a tackle. Time will allow the retooled defence, also including new goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic, to gain a greater understanding.

Further forward, the Cherries were missing three key men in Justin Kluivert, Lewis Cook and Ryan Christie, while the absence of Luis Sinisterra (reportedly lining up a move abroad) and Brentford-bound Dango Ouattara left them short of cover in the wide areas.

Iraola prefers to have a group of wide players available so the starters can run themselves ragged before being replaced after the hour mark. The fact he only made one change before the dying minutes at Anfield reflected his relative lack of forward ammunition on the bench.

However, new signings Ben Gannon Doak (as he now prefers to be known) and Amine Adli should remedy that situation. Gannon Doak has pace to burn and vast potential, Adli already has a Bundesliga winner's medal, and the pair are ready to be unleashed when Wolves visit Vitality Stadium on Saturday.