Arne Slot still spectacularly missing the point over Alexander Isak with Liverpool in denial

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While Nick Woltemade found the net once more for Newcastle United in Wednesday's 2-0 Carabao Cup fourth round triumph over Tottenham , matters aren't progressing quite as smoothly for the player he replaced.

Following Liverpool's entire summer chasing a transfer for Alexander Isak , which culminated in him downing tools whilst still under contract at Newcastle , events haven't unfolded as anticipated since his £125million switch.

Isak has battled to achieve peak condition and is yet to find the back of the net for the champions in the Premier League , managing just a solitary strike in a Carabao Cup victory against Southampton .

They've subsequently crashed out of that tournament following a 3-0 home reverse to Crystal Palace , with Isak remaining sidelined after picking up a groin problem during their Champions League success over Eintracht Frankfurt.

Liverpool suffered defeat in six out of seven fixtures across all competitions, with the heat mounting on their boss Arne Slot consequently,.

And whilst he persists in trotting out justifications for Isak's disappointing beginning, plus the club's extensive injury catalogue, rather than examining the striker's own behaviour, Newcastle's handling of the Swedish international remains firmly in his crosshairs.

"We handle the situation as it is," Slot said this week. "Alex, let me use as an example, pre-season was inside the season. People ask why he plays? Otherwise I have to play Hugo every game.

"Both strikers, Owen Hargreaves showed me, both played 34 games last season, we play 60 over here, so I need Alex having as many games as he can. And that has been something with him and a few others, - Frimpong, Bradley - if one is out one has to play more, hence Szoboszlai at right-back more.

"That has been something every team, so it's not an excuse but it was a bit different than last season, last season they all had one year Premier League experience as a minimum, they stayed fit.

"Now some have to play more than you want them to but it is just the situation as it is. We have enough to play the games but I have to take care of a few of them, why I made the decision not to play seven or eight."

Slot's correct that Isak featured 34 times for Newcastle in the Premier League last season but he clocked up 48 appearances across all competitions for club and country during the previous campaign.

He achieved that tally because Newcastle handled his minutes intelligently and, consequently, they extracted maximum value from him as he netted 27 goals across all competitions - including the decisive strike in Newcastle's Carabao Cup final triumph against the Reds.

Had they failed to do so, Liverpool wouldn't have moved to bring him in.

Newcastle knew Isak had groin issues. They knew how to manage him regardless. They got nearly 50 games out of the Swede - a point Slot seems intent on spectacularly missing.