‘Used to winning’: Former Liverpool star Glen Johnson says new signing will drive more success

DUBAI: When Liverpool take on Newcastle United at St James’ Park on Monday night in their second Premier League match of the season, the chatter will again be about their new signings — and the possible recruitment of Alexander Isak from Eddie Howe’s team, which is expected to make the atmosphere edgier than usual.

The opening day of the season saw Arne Slot’s team beat Bournemouth 4-2 with British transfer record signing Florian Wirtz making his bow at Anfield alongside forward Hugo Ekitike and new fullbacks Miklos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong.

The latter two were withdrawn in the second half as the home team led 2-0, and former Liverpool player Glen Johnson, who played for the club at both left- and right-back positions, believes the additions will be expected to excel at defense and attack.

“That’s part of the game now,” Johnson told Arab News while in Dubai recently. “Obviously they’ve got to defend, they’ve got to be good on the ball, but they’ve also got to be good going forward. And to do that, you need an engine.”

Frimpong, who is likely to miss the match against Newcastle, and Kerkez have taken over starting positions from Liverpool stalwarts of recent years in Trent Alexander-Arnold, who left for Real Madrid, and Andy Robertson, who remains at the club.

Johnson added that modern football, not to mention Liverpool’s attacking methods, places extra demands on them.

“Nowadays it’s expected (to attack and defend),” the former England star said. “Before, there was probably only a handful of people who could do it. But now it’s almost like if you can’t do it, you can’t play there.”

Johnson said that after Liverpool deservedly, if unexpectedly, won the Premier League last season, expectations will be to repeat