Newcastle United

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Senior football correspondent Sami Mokbel believes Brentford's reported interest in Borussia Dortmund forward Max Beier could "finally unlock" Yoane Wissa's move to Newcastle.

The Magpies have had two bids rejected for Wissa, with the latest worth up to £40m, as they continue to deal with their own wantaway striker Alexander Isak, who is currently refusing to play as he seeks a move to Liverpool.

It was reported in Wednesday's BBC Sport gossip column that the Bees are interested in 22-year-old Germany forward Beier, and Mokbel believes that move could set off a chain reaction.

"You would imagine that from Wissa's perspective and his advisors' perspective that would finally unlock his move," he told the Football Daily podcast.

"They were of the assumption that when Brentford completed the signing of Dango Ouattara he could go, provided that Newcastle made a sufficient bid. Ouattara is in the building, yet Wissa is still hanging on for his move.

"I was chuffed for Keith Andrews to get that first league win. You feared for him because it's his first managerial job, it's the Premier League, and he had a big bump in the road against Forest in their first game of the season.

"It goes to prove that there is life after Thomas Frank, life after Bryan Mbeumo, after Mark Flekken and Christian Norgaard.

"Now they've got that three points over the line, maybe they'll look at Wissa's situation and think 'we can cope without him, let's do a deal' and bring in a player who wants to be there.

"Wissa has made it abundantly clear he wants to go to Newcastle."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Former Liverpool striker John Aldridge believes Newcastle striker Alexander Isak would be a huge asset for the Reds if they complete his signing.

The Sweden striker found the net 23 times in 34 league games last season.

Sweden striker Alexander Isak, 25, has told Newcastle he still wants to leave for Liverpool despite the intervention of club chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan and a meeting with co-owner Jamie Reuben. (Telegraph - subscription required, external)

Isak's future could determine whether Liverpool and Newcastle make a move for Juventus' 25-year-old Serbia striker Dusan Vlahovic. (Teamtalk, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Charlotte Robson
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

What to say about Newcastle v Liverpool? Actually so much! This match had a lot of feelings attached to it already after this summer; the atmosphere pre-game was electric. The rumours were that our ownership had even gone to visit Alexander Isak at his house pre-game.

But that game, to me, couldn't have been less about Alex Isak and I'm glad of that. This game was about a Newcastle United squad that looked truly united. I was convinced by half time the game was over - Anthony Gordon was sent off for a daft studs up tackle and, despite a dominant first half hour, it felt like this was going to be Liverpool's game.

Well, for approximately the second time in my life, I was wrong. Not literally of course because as you know Liverpool won, but in my assessment of our spirit.

No player typified that for me more than Bruno Guimaraes. When you're down to 10 men you need leadership and energy and he brings that by the bucket load. He looked like a player who really believed this game was ours, and that feeling is infectious for both the crowd and his teammates.

And then of course he scored. Watching him celebrate and totally understand what it means to the fans at St James' Park cancels out this summer of discontent, for me. You can see what this all means to him. He cares about the squad, and the manager, and the fans, and the city. That's my captain.

The result didn't go our way this time, but it will this season at various points and for various runs. I can't not believe that after seeing the unity and commitment in this fixture.

Find more from Charlotte Robson at the True Faith: Newcastle United Podcast, external

Ciaran Kelly
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool were certainly clinical at St James' Park on Monday. But Newcastle will still rue not pressing home their advantage with a full complement of players when the game was goalless.

Set-plays were wasted. The hosts were screaming out for a poacher to get on the end of teasing crosses that were gratefully claimed by Alisson. On the one occasion a delivery from Harvey Barnes picked out the head of Anthony Gordon, the forward failed to hit the target.

Digging deeper, Newcastle have had 26 shots in their opening two league games of the season, but Eddie Howe's side have managed just six efforts on target and two goals.

Although William Osula got on the scoresheet on Monday night, the 22-year-old is still developing and has never started a Premier League game for the club.

However, if Newcastle do not reach a breakthrough in the transfer market in the coming days, the Dane could yet line up against Leeds United on Saturday after bids were turned down for Wolves star Jorgen Strand Larsen and Brentford striker Yoane Wissa.

It was certainly not lost on Howe that one of the best strikers in the world is still on Newcastle's books – and how the hosts could have used the Alexander Isak of old.

"The quality of Alex would have made a difference in the two games," Howe said. "I don't think there's any denying that. But, that said, the team has functioned really well.

"The performance of the players and the team in the two games doesn't happen without every part of the team functioning well. You can't carry anyone in this division against any opponent. Yes, we needed to score in that first half when we were on top. Goals change games, but we're just dealing with what we have."

Howe said he was "not party to the talks that were happening" after suggestions that Jamie Reuben, the club's owner, had held face-to-face discussions with Isak, while chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan is also in town.

But, one way or the other, a resolution to this saga is finally imminent, with the window closing on 1 September.

How it is needed.

We asked for your views on Newcastle's dramatic 3-2 defeat by Liverpool in the Premier League.

Here are some of your comments:

Newcastle fans

Simon: The Liverpool third goal was sickening as it came completely against the run of play. Gordon was playing well, but his action leading to his red card was really poor. Aside from that, Newcastle were really strong - the pressing, speed and winning the ball were all excellent. Pleased Osula came on and scored - he deserves more game time. A strong performances across the team, Bruno was excellent, as was Dan Burn. Overall this performance gives me renewed optimism. We just need to resolve the Isak situation one way or another.

Amy: Newcastle were outstanding and the lads should be proud of themselves for this performance. Liverpool didn't have a clue how to combat them and won from pure luck. Fair play to young Rio. What a feeling for him but Newcastle were the better team. Howay the lads!

Matt: Excellent from the Mags. Full-throttle football showing no fear for the league title-holders. The subs were very good and there was clear dominance for the majority of the game despite having 10 men. Liverpool were lucky but ultimately took their chances. I don't think a loss was deserved at all. I'm very pleased for Osula too. Gordon as a false nine just doesn't work. Play Osula at Leeds and I bet he scores two!

Charles: Proud of Newcastle - more spirit than any other team and one striker away from humbling Liverpool.

Liverpool fans

Mark: It's not about a performance. The end result is all that matters... Sign of champions to play that badly and still take three points.

Eugene: Liverpool again looked vulnerable in defence. Not going to retain the league title playing like this. Lack firepower up front. Need Isak and Guehi. Without them both, top four at best.

Hemanth: Champions doing what champions do, in a cauldron! That said, defence was poor - Konate especially so. Wirtz positioning still needs fixing and Kerkez is raw. Ngumoha and Ekitike are brilliant finds. Szoboszlai was a revelation defending and he gave his all. Have to find a way to play Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Wirtz and Szoboszlai together.

Ken: Once the dust settles on a remarkable moment for Rio Ngumoha, this was yet another performance which shows that, aside from replacing the talent to have left the squad, Liverpool need to learn how to contest and then win their individual duels. Apart from Virgil and maybe Gravenberch on occasions, the others were bullied. I would restore Robertson to the starting XI and allow Kerkez time to bed in, similar to what Robertson had to do when he first arrived. Lots of work to be done.

Image source, Getty Images

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."

• Sign up for news alerts about your Premier League club

Ciaran Kelly
Newcastle United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Newcastle had just suffered a painful defeat right at the death - only you would not have known it. Not by the standing ovation the Geordies afforded their exhausted side at full-time against Liverpool.

Newcastle had run the champions mighty close - and the home support recognised that.

After going 2-0 down and with Anthony Gordon dismissed, it had previously felt a long way back for the 10 men. The away end even felt emboldened enough to chant about Alexander Isak as they asked Newcastle to "hand him over".

Yet the spirited hosts rallied.

Bruno Guimaraes' header reignited the stadium as the captain waved his arms up and down and whipped up the fans after pulling a goal back.

Suddenly it felt like Newcastle were playing with a man advantage at a raucous St James' Park as they swarmed Liverpool and made them retreat.

They would lose Sandro Tonali and Joelinton to injury as well, but still Eddie Howe's side kept scrapping as an unlikely scorer stepped up.

Unlikely may seem a strange word to use to describe a striker, but substitute Osula had only previously bagged one top-flight goal for Newcastle, against Ipswich Town in April, since his arrival from Sheffield United last year.

It has got to the stage where Gordon, a winger by trade, has been picked ahead of the Dane in attack. Yet Osula thought he had snatched a point for his side - only for Rio Ngumoha to score a last-gasp winner.

It was a hammer blow for Newcastle, who will somehow have to regroup and lift themselves for a trip to Leeds United on Saturday - and Howe needs a breakthrough in his search for a striker.

Newcastle, after all, are unable to count on one of the world's best centre-forwards in Isak, and will be without the suspended Gordon for the next three games.

Their search for a replacement for Callum Wilson also goes into the final week of the window after bids for Wolves forward Jorgen Strand Larsen and Brentford's Yoane Wissa were rejected.

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe, speaking to BBC Match of the Day on Monday's dramatic 3-2 defeat by Liverpool: "It was a great performance from the players, both first and second half in very different ways.

"First half, we thought we dominated the game. We were in a great place with just the goal missing.

"Second half, we had a mountain to climb at 2-0 down with 10 men, but I thought we controlled the game. I thought we were really good and fought our way back unbelievably well but couldn't get over the line to get a point.

"It's tough to play against 11 men, especially against a team with the quality of Liverpool. The first goal was key - it gave us belief, got us back into the match and we always felt if the margin was one we'd be able to get something from the match."

On the injuries: "I don't know with Joe [Joelinton] and Sandro [Tonali]. It doesn't look good when a player comes off, especially because both looked in a little bit of pain. It would be huge blow for us if they're not available. Anthony [Gordon] will be suspended and Fabian [Schar] had concussion, so not good."

On Gordon's red card: "I've only seen it once back and it was very quick as the game was going on. I think Anthony was going in full blooded into the challenge and he's tried to pull out and slipped, and his momentum has taken him in. It didn't look good but I don't think there was any intent."

Did you know?

• Newcastle scored two goals in a Premier League game after having a player sent off for the first time since May 2016 against Tottenham (three goals, 5-1 win).

• Only against Manchester City (22 between 2006 and 2018) have Newcastle endured a longer winless run in league football than they have against Liverpool (18 - also 18 against Manchester United between 2002 and 2011).

• Bruno Guimaraes made his 66th consecutive start for Newcastle in the Premier League, the most of any player for the club, moving beyond Danny Simpson's 65 in 2012.

Hear more from Howe on BBC Sounds

Wolves will hand striker Jorgen Strand Larsen a new contract after rejecting a £50m bid from Newcastle, but could still be tempted to sell the 25-year-old Norway international if they receive an offer in excess of £75m. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Larsen is keen to move to Newcastle and the Magpies are weighing up another bid, but he is not viewed as a direct replacement for Alexander Isak. (The I - subscription required), external

Newcastle officials, including co-owner Jamie Reuben, have spoken to Isak at his home in an attempt to convince the striker to stay at the club and return to Eddie Howe's squad despite Liverpool's interest. (Mail), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Newcastle's performance

What did you make of Liverpool's display?

Come back to this page on Tuesday to find a selection of your replies

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has named an unchanged side after the 0-0 draw at Aston Villa on the opening day.

New signing Jacob Ramsey is named on the bench for the first time after his move from Aston Villa.

Newcastle XI: Pope, Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento, Joelinton, Tonali, Guimaraes, Elanga, Gordon, Barnes.

Subs: Ramsdale, Hall, Botman, Thiaw, Osula, Murphy, Willock, Ramsey, Miley.

Arne Slot has made two changes to the Liverpool side who took three points against Bournemouth on the opening day.

Jeremie Frimpong misses out with a hamstring injury while Alexis Mac Allister is set to become a parent for the first time.

Curtis Jones and Ryan Gravenberch come into the starting XI.

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez, Jones, Gravenberch, Wirtz, Gakpo, Salah, Ekitike.

Subs: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Bradley, Endo, Chiesa, Leoni, Elliott, Robertson, Ngumoha.

Newcastle haven't won against Liverpool in the Premier League since 2015.

Can they end the run tonight at St James' Park?

Ciaran Kelly
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

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.

• Find and follow your Premier League club on BBC Sport

Ciaran Kelly
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

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."