GOAL: Regarding Isak - looking at how Liverpool have played so far, do they really need him? Is this a case of the rich just getting richer?
COSTIGAN: He fills a need. I think the modern game now, you can't go in with the idea that "Well, [Hugo] Ekitike scored, so you have a forward." It doesn't work like that anymore. The best teams have multiple options. You look at Man City over the last couple of years and the money they've spent. Remember, Liverpool have lost Diego Jota through tragedy. They've sold Luis Diaz. They've sold Darwin Nunez. So three of the front group last year is gone, and Ekitike is the only one that's come in. The idea that Liverpool are now in a position for Isak?
Because it was only a few years ago when Liverpool were always shopping in the second tier to try to sign a player, who eventually becomes a £100 million player. The fact that Liverpool have got to this point, don't give me any bad vibes about it! Let me enjoy this moment that Liverpool can go out and get a Florian Wirtz and can go out and get, hopefully, an Alexander Isak. I think it's good, but I can understand the emotions of Newcastle too, because I've been there when Coutinho was leaving and Liverpool felt like "No, we're about to build something." I guarantee that's what Newcastle feel and their fans feel aggrieved, and their manager feels aggrieved as well.
GOAL: From your point of view, is there any way all of the sides, particularly Isak, could have handled this better?
COSTIGAN: No, this is the way players do it nowadays. This becomes territorial, right? If a player from my club does it, he's an absolute disgrace. A player from another club does it to get to my club, "Well, hang on a minute!" I don't hear Newcastle fans going crazy about Yoane Wissa and complaining about him taking down all the Brentford posts to get to Newcastle. I don't think there's a right way to handle it. I wish there were a way with clubs to do business the right way. I also wish the players who signed contracts would understand that they have to honor those if that's part of the agreement... So I'm not a fan of it. I wish players could just handle their business in the correct manner. Clubs play their part in this, too, because clubs try to push out players when they don't want them anymore.
GOAL: Based on what you've seen, are Liverpool the favorites in your book?
COSTIGAN: I think Liverpool are going to be there, or thereabouts... Liverpool are going to be in the top three this year. They're going to be one of those teams that challenge. But I've always said I thought last year's success for Liverpool was built on the continuity of the season before with the same group. They got off to a very good start and never looked back. So if I'm Arsenal, I'm looking at this and saying, "Let's hope Liverpool have that blip. We get ourselves a positive start because we almost have the same group. We've added a couple of pieces, but for the most part, we're the same." And then Liverpool have to play catch-up. But no, I think anybody writing off Liverpool is absolutely silly. They're going to be one of the most entertaining sides to watch this year.
.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
