Michael Owen brutally singles out Liverpool star after 'worrying' performance in Newcastle draw
Former Liverpool and Newcastle United striker Michael Owen did not hold back when giving his assessment of Alexander Isak’s performance against the Magpies.
A chorus of boos and jeers greeted Isak as he lined up for kick-off at St James’ Park, and it’s safe to say his afternoon hardly improved.
The Sweden international, who controversially joined Liverpool from Newcastle for £125million last summer, was the least popular man on Tyneside on Sunday (August 23) as the sides played out an entertaining 2-2 draw.
Former Manchester United winger Anthony Elanga opened the scoring five minutes in before Cody Gakpo’s long-range strike levelled things 10 minutes after half-time.
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However, it took just two minutes for the Magpies to restore their lead, with Joe Willock finishing coolly past Alisson.
Matthias Jaissle may have thought he was heading for his first win as Newcastle boss before the away side were awarded a late penalty when Lewis Hall was adjudged to have fouled Victor Munoz in the penalty area.
Dominik Szoboszlai stepped up and made no mistake from the spot, smashing the ball high to Lukas Hornicek’s right.
Despite snatching a point, several Liverpool stars came in for criticism after the match, with Sky Sports pundit and former United right-back Gary Neville describing Isak and Florian Wirtz as the “biggest disappointments” after lacklustre performances.
Like Isak, Wirtz struggled to make a positive impact during the 2025/26 campaign following his £116million move from Germany’s Bayer Leverkusen.
“The big thing for Liverpool is they've got this quarter-of-a-billion-pound front two, Isak and Wirtz, and bloody hell, we've been kind to them,” Neville said on the Gary Neville podcast.
“They're going to have to start playing sooner or later or else, to be fair, they're going to get quite a lot of criticism. For a start, they're too nice, and if you're going to be nice, you'd better be incredible at football.
“I don't see the tenacity in Wirtz in particular. I just see a nice player moving around the pitch, not really ever looking like he's busting a gut to do anything.
“Now, that can happen. Sometimes players have that flow about them, but I want to put a rocket up him. I want to put a rocket up him because there's ability there, there's talent there, the understanding of his position.”
Michael Owen dubs Alexander Isak's performance 'worrying' in Newcastle draw
Then, on Monday (August 24), Owen, who represented Liverpool, Newcastle, as well as Real Madrid and Manchester United during his playing days, gave his own verdict, choosing to focus on Isak, suggesting fans’ patience is running thin despite the forward’s injury problems during his first season at Anfield.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Owen said: “I had plenty of injuries in my career. So I know how hard it is to get back and you do need a bit of time.
“Everybody’s given him time and understood that, but when he’s sort of finished the season then gone to the World Cup and now he’s had a pre-season, you just think ‘ok now we’re starting to run out of excuses’.
“We need to start seeing the real Isak and we know how good he is. We saw him for Newcastle, he’s absolute class, but we haven’t seen it for Liverpool just yet. I think questions will come now.
“As I say, always give him the benefit of the doubt in the past with Liverpool, but at the start of this season, now we’re expecting and Liverpool absolutely need him.
“They’ve lost (Mohamed) Salah, (Hugo) Ekitike is out. There’s not that many options in attacking areas. They absolutely need him to be on top form.
“Yesterday, he was far from it. I thought he was a yard off and that’s worrying.”
Isak has registered just four goals and one assist in 24 appearances for the Reds.
Liverpool return to Premier League action at home against Nottingham Forest on August 29.
Topics: Michael Owen, Liverpool, Newcastle United
Luke Davies