Alexander Isak found the back of the net against Nottingham Forest, bagging his 58th Premier League goal in their 2-2 draw. That’s the good news. The not-so-good news? He barely touched the ball all game, and new Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola has a serious puzzle on his hands trying to figure out how to actually use the guy.
The Price Tag, The Pressure, and The Disappearing Act
Let’s be real, the pressure on Isak is immense. This dude cost Liverpool a club-record £125m last summer, making him the most expensive player in Premier League history. Think about that for a second! When they were negotiating for Bradley Barcola from Paris St-Germain, the Anfield brass flat-out refused to pay more than what they shelled out for Isak. Barcola’s £123m deal is about to wrap, making him the 10th £100m player in the league, but Isak still tops the list. With that kind of investment, you expect fireworks. At Newcastle, he delivered 44 Premier League goals in his last two seasons. But his first campaign at Anfield? Injury-plagued and disappointing, just three goals in 14 top-flight appearances.
He looked sharp in pre-season, especially after some impressive World Cup displays for Sweden. But then came the return to Tyneside last weekend, and it was a struggle. That struggle totally carried over into the first 45 minutes against Forest on Saturday. He had a measly six touches, one accurate pass, and zero shots. Zero! Even after his goal, he only managed seven more touches in the second half. It’s a huge problem.
Iraola’s Major Conundrum: How Do You Unlock a £125m Striker?
Ex-England keeper Joe Hart, a pundit on Match of the Day, laid it out plain: “It is clear that Liverpool haven’t worked out how to play with Alexander Isak yet.” He said at Newcastle, everything flowed through Isak. There was this “trust thing” built up, where the midfield knew exactly where he’d be. At Liverpool, that trust just isn’t there, and he isn’t that central point. It’s making him look “lost and isolated.” It’s tough watching a striker with that much quality just disappear for huge stretches.
His smile after scoring his first goal of the season against Forest did tell a story, though. He told TNT Sports, “That’s the job ultimately as a striker. I am very happy to score the first one and hopefully it just keeps coming.” Even former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard called the goal “big” for both Isak’s confidence and the team. But Hart is right, Iraola has some big decisions. Does he build the team around Isak, or find another solution? Hart’s opinion is clear: Iraola has to commit to the club’s massive investment. You don’t sign players like this and then not play to their strengths. There’s no doubt about Isak’s quality, but Liverpool is definitely at a crossroads with him right now. Getting the best out of Isak will be a major part of Iraola’s success. It has to be.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by BBC Sport.
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