Alexander Isak shows true colours as he turns the air red at Newcastle

Alexander Isak is showing everybody his true colours - but it's not the shade of red he wants it to be.

Instead of being dressed from head to toe in the gorgeous new red Adidas strip, holding a scarf aloft at Anfield, he's puffing his embarrassed plum cheeks, alone, on Newcastle's training pitch.

Eddie Howe has taken the hardline approach. No player can be allowed to think they are bigger or more important than the club.

You can have all the talent in the world but if your attitude is unprofessional, it may even make potential suitors have second thoughts.

Liverpool want a statement signing. Isak wants the move. Yet the 25-year-old's silence, sulking and sidelining that are making the biggest statement of all.

He was the Premier League's golden striker last season, more impressive than Erling Haaland. But now he's risked turning gold into rust.

Egyptian mummies no longer the hardmen

FOOTBALLERS playing on with bandages wrapped around their heads like an ancient Egyptian mummy used to be one of the hardest looks in sport.

But nothing will ever compete with Chris Stokes taking to the field with one arm in a sling under his shirt. He's redefined the term hardman.

Cup finals should be free

CUP finals should always be on free-to-air TV (or YouTube) and the Community Shield is no different.

It's back behind a paywall this weekend after ITV lost the rights. It might not be the most glamorous event but it's still a showpiece fixture at Wembley that fans without mega-money subscriptions deserve the chance to watch.