Isak to Liverpool: Betting odds and reaction as Reds smash British transfer record

Liverpool left it late to grab their winning goal against Arsenal on Sunday and their patient approach in the transfer window was rewarded with the deadline-day signing of Alexander Isak in a British record-breaking £125 million deal from Newcastle. 

The Reds’ victory over Arsenal took them to first place in the Premier League and helped them replace the Gunners at the top of the title betting, and the signing of the Swedish forward has the potential to be a game-changer in the Reds’ pursuit of more major honours. 

Backing for Liverpool intensified after initial news of the Isak agreement and their title odds shortened from 6-4 to 13-10.

Premier League title odds

Here are bet365's latest Premier League title odds:

Odds correct at time of publishing

How will Isak fit in at Liverpool?

On paper, their new-look attack looks a frightening proposition. Isak looks certain to be the new first-choice number nine, £116m signing Florian Wirtz fills the number ten position and Mohamed Salah, Hugo Ekitite and Cody Gakpo will contest the wide attacking roles.

Reds fans are understandably excited although there are ongoing questions about the balance of the side which hasn't looked quite right in the opening games of the season.

Dominik Szoboszlai showed his quality with a stunning free-kick against Arsenal but his deployment as a right-back and consequent absence from midfield might have to be a temporary measure if Liverpool are to retain the optimum balance to their side.

Slot wants to shoehorn as much attacking talent as possible into his starting line up, but his midfield looked exposed against Bournemouth and for long periods of the 3-2 victory against Newcastle despite Liverpool having a one-man advantage for the entire second half.

However, the problem of having too much attacking talent is a nice one to have and there seems little doubt that Isak will be a huge success.

The Swede was a massive hit on Tyneside, scoring 54 goals in 86 Premier League appearances, and at the age of 25, he looks about to enter the prime years of his career.

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Isak is the ideal modern day Premier League centre-forward with an eye for goal and the ability to beat defenders for pace as well as the strength to hold and protect the ball in tight situations.

There is a scarcity of modern-day players with Isak's attributes and that makes him an astute signing, despite the hefty fee.

Given Isak's ability, it is understandable to see him installed as the 15-2 third favourite in the Premier League top scorer betting.

However, he has ground to make up on some key rivals with evens favourite Erling Haaland on three goals and 7-1 shot Viktor Gyokeres bagging a brace in Arsenal's 5-0 triumph at home to Leeds.

Isak's new club-mate Salah was last season's Premier League top scorer with 29 goals and it will be interesting to see which of the duo scores the most goals.

Paddy Power make Isak 10-11 to score more goals than Salah, 10-11 to score in the January home fixture against Newcastle and 9-4 to be Liverpool's top scorer.

Liverpool were, however, unable to complete a deal for Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi. Guehi passed a medical for the Reds in the afternoon but the transfer collapsed on Monday evening with Palace unable to find an adequate replacement for the England man.

Premier League top goalscorer odds

Here are bet365's latest Premier League top goalscorer odds:

Odds correct at time of publishing

How will Newcastle replace Isak?

Newcastle's late scramble to replace Isak and Callum Wilson, who joined West Ham earlier in the summer, was complete when they snapped up Yoane Wissa in a reported £55m deal from Brentford.

The Magpies had also been active over the weekend, signing Germany international striker Nick Woltemade from Stuttgart, and they can at least look forward to seeing a couple of new faces in their attack when they host Wolves in their first match after the international break.

Woltemade has won just two caps at senior international level and looks more of a long-term project, but 28-year-old Wissa will be expected to hit the ground running.

Wissa had a positive four-season spell at Brentford where he netted 45 goals in 137 Premier League appearances.

The Congo forward bagged 19 Premier League goals last term and is 13-10 shot with Paddy Power to score 15 or more league goals in his first season on Tyneside.

It will be up to Newcastle manager Eddie Howe to get his new look attack firing on all cylinders as he tries to move the club forward after such a difficult summer.

Howe's side took just two points from their first three games, which included goalless draws away to Aston Villa and Leeds.

The 47-year-old led the Magpies to fifth last season but he seems to have his work cut out this term and Newcastle are 150-1 to win the title and 9-2 for a top-four finish.

Other significant deals on deadline day included Tottenham's loan capture of Paris Saint-Germain attacker Randal Kolo Muani, while Manchester City were closing on a deal to sign goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma from the French champions.

Read more: 

Football accumulator tips for Tuesday September 2: Back our acca at 13-1 with bet365 

Premier League: Reds 11-10 to retain title after Szoboszlai stunner beats Arsenal 

Premier League takeaways: Risk-averse Arteta must take the handbrake off 

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