Alexander Isak breaks silence on Newcastle exit and leaving Eddie Howe furious | Football | Sport

Alexander Isak has finally addressed questions surrounding his controversial decision to skip Newcastle United‘s pre-season tour before his eventual switch to Liverpool. The striker’s behaviour was branded as “going on strike” by Eddie Howe, yet Isak had previously avoided discussing the summer period when he declined to join Newcastle’s trip to the Far East.

Isak further antagonised Howe by opting to train alone in Spain whilst his former team-mates geared up for the 2025/26 campaign. When pressed by Sky Sports reporter Pat Davison about the consequences of missing pre-season, Isak replied: “It is difficult to say. Of course as a footballer you want to be in that flow and play in every game. And train every training session.

“But it is not a new thing, we get injured sometimes. And we miss games and training, it is nothing new. I am just trying to get back to my best.”

Isak scored his maiden Liverpool goal in last weekend’s triumph over West Ham but failed to find the net against Sunderland in midweek.

Reflecting on his departure from Newcastle, Isak told Sky Sports: “I don’t really reflect on it that much. It is in the past, my focus is here. It is best to just stay in the moment.”

The £130m signing also pledged to deliver significantly improved performances for Liverpool, stating: “I expect to do much more, of course.

“I always do that; even when I do really well, I want more. So that’s not a problem for me. I’m just trying to stay positive, trying to work to do better. That’s what I’m looking to do.

“Obviously, I’m the first one to know, and I know best, when I’m doing good and when I’m not doing good. I don’t need anyone to tell me how I’m doing. That’s not a problem for me.”

Arne Slot recently conceded that Liverpool are not playing to Isak’s strengths, insisting they must start bringing the best out of their record signing.

“It is obvious and clear that we want to bring him into more threatening situations,” said the Reds manager.

“Before we went to only one goal conceded in two games [West Ham and Sunderland] we had a lot of chances. Because we are a little bit more compact and not taking as many risks, we have not been able to create as many chances as all of the games before.

“It is definitely one of the things on my list of things to improve to get our No 9 more involved in the game and more involved in the final third.”