Alexander Isak's fierce response to Man Utd boss sends Liverpool clear message

 Whether you love him or loathe him, Alexander Isak has demonstrated he's not one to shy away from a fight - as his bold response to former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag perfectly illustrates.

The Liverpool changing room will know precisely what kind of personality they're bringing in should they shatter the British transfer record to land him this summer. The Newcastle frontman has faced mounting criticism in recent weeks as he pushes for a sensational switch to Anfield - but he's shown he can dish it out just as well when confronted.

A perfect example emerged after Ten Hag branded Newcastle as time-wasters during the 2023 Carabao Cup final. "We know they delay," the then-Manchester United boss moaned. "It's something referees don't want.

Isak wasted no time hitting back when quizzed about those remarks following Newcastle's 2-0 Premier League victory over United several weeks later. "I don't really agree," he stated defiantly.

"We worked with intensity, and we were the team that wanted to win - the team bringing the game forward."

But he wasn't finished there. Flipping the accusation back onto United, Isak declared: "They wasted more time than us. I don't put too much focus on that. I think we put in a great performance."

Those comments showcased Isak's combative streak and willingness to hold his ground - traits reflected in his current efforts to force through a switch to Liverpool this summer.

The Reds could slot the 25-year-old into a glittering revamped attack alongside Mohamed Salah, Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz. Liverpool are considering breaking the British transfer record for the second time this summer to secure Alexander Isak's signature, after already doing so with a £116m deal for Florian Wirtz.

However, Newcastle United are holding out for £150million - a figure Liverpool will naturally aim to negotiate down.

This standoff could soon reach a tipping point. Reports suggest that Isak is prepared to refuse to play for Newcastle if his transfer demands aren't met, potentially forcing the club's hand.

Meanwhile, Liverpool's urgency may be diminishing due to Hugo Ekitike's impressive start at Anfield. The Frenchman, who was signed from Eintracht Frankfurt for £69m, has hit the ground running, scoring in the Community Shield loss to Crystal Palace and again in Friday's win over Bournemouth.

The potential deal for Isak remains uncertain, and with Newcastle yet to secure a replacement, it's unclear whether their stance will soften. Isak even threatened to go on strike and skipped the club's pre-season tour of Asia.

His absence was noticeable on Saturday when he was left out of Newcastle's opening-day trip to Aston Villa. Anthony Gordon was used as a makeshift No. 9 in a match that ended goalless, with Newcastle failing to capitalise despite Ezri Konsa's sending off in the 66th minute.

Eddie Howe's squad controlled the ball and managed 16 attempts, yet only three found the target - a figure that highlighted precisely how much they were missing Isak's clinical finishing. Beyond branding the unsettled striker "greedy", the away fans even crafted a fresh chant aimed at their former hero.

"We don't care about Isak, he don't care about me, all we care about is NUFC," they sang as they departed the ground.

When questioned about the song, Howe declined to criticise it, explaining: "Whatever happens, I think the supporters acted really well today because they supported the team. Not everything has been plain sailing but they've always been with the team. And then if afterwards they want to say something, I think they're very free to do that."