ARNE SLOT has branded Newcastle United a “smaller club” and suggested that Alexander Isak’s latest setback could be linked to the Magpies’ handling of the striker as he tried to force through a move to Liverpool this summer.

Isak’s disappointing start to his Liverpool career continued last night as he failed to score for the seventh game in a row for club and country as the Reds beat Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League.

To make matters worse for the Swede, he suffered a groin injury that forced his half-time withdrawal and means he is likely to miss Liverpool’s weekend game with Brentford.

Isak didn’t play or train with the rest of Newcastle’s first-team squad during the summer as he effectively went on strike in order to facilitate a move to Anfield.

His lack of pre-season action appears to be having a major negative impact, both in terms of his fitness and form, with Slot’s suggestion that Isak had left a ‘smaller club’ sure to infuriate all those involved with Newcastle.

“I don’t think there’s a rule where every single player has the...