(Image: Photo by Shaun Brooks - CameraSport via Getty Images)

Alexander Isak is being dogged by a similar injury he suffered at Newcastle United earlier this year - one that threatened to rule him out of the Carabao Cup final at one stage.

The £130million man has struggled to make an impact at Liverpool, netting just one goal and looking like a different player to the one who hit top form on Tyneside. But a groin problem for Isak isn't new and one that Newcastle medics were forced to manage across two of his three seasons at St James' Park.

Isak missed the defeat at Liverpool last spring and faced a race against time to get fit for the final against the Reds at Wembley. But the problem did not go away much to the concern of Howe and his medical team.

Howe said in May: "I think he has had a couple of groin issues, either side, this was one he had earlier in the season.

"I don’t think it is something that needs mending. It certainly probably needs looking at as to why...