First he was out of shape, now Alexander Isak is out of luck following a Micky van de Ven tackle which left Liverpool fuming - their £125m man must wonder whether he will ever catch a break, writes DOMINIC KING

The messages began circulating the night the deal was done. No sooner had Alexander Isak been announced as Liverpool's new totem, his new supporters began to peer into crystal balls.

It was assumed, with no lack of giddiness, that Isak would launch his career on Merseyside in style in the game that still matters more than any other and WhatsApp was ablaze with the potential that the Swede's first goal in Red would come against Everton on September 20.

Virgil van Dijk had got his time at Anfield off to a flyer with a header that knocked the Blues out of the FA Cup in January 2018; fate often seems to play a hand in this fixture, which is why Nick Barmby's first goal for Liverpool after acrimoniously leaving Goodison Park came against… Everton.