Alexander Isak Under Pressure: Why Liverpool’s £125m Striker Must Start Delivering Consistent Performances
Following the Break of the October international fixtures, Liverpool’s manager, Arne Slot, declared that Alexander Isak’s period of adjustment was over, suggesting there were no remaining justifications for subpar performances.
“Regarding his physical condition, he’s nearing his optimal form,” Slot stated before the highly anticipated clash between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield, “meaning we can now evaluate him objectively.”
However, merely three weeks elapsed before Slot found himself once again requesting leniency for the record-breaking British transfer.
“I realize I previously indicated that his pre-season preparation was complete, and the time had come to assess his abilities, but I must retract that statement,” the Liverpool head coach admitted to the press on November 7th.
“A three-week rehabilitation period is insufficient to restore someone to their previous peak.”
Yet, Isak should now be at that peak. And, crucially, he needs to be, as almost a quarter of a year after his arrival at Anfield, the Swedish forward still resembles a signing that Liverpool arguably didn’t require – and definitely not for the staggering sum of £125 million ($163m).
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Isak’s departure from Newcastle for Liverpool dominated the summer headlines, a transfer characterized by both bitterness and protracted negotiations.
Opinions were rife, but according to Isak, a comprehensive understanding of the situation was less common.
“I can’t dictate the narrative in the media,” Isak commented on the fierce criticism following his ultimately successful strike. “There’s much to debate, a conversation that could continue indefinitely.
However, it’s been a learning experience, and I’m content with the outcome. I’m honored to represent Liverpool. I prefer not to delve into specifics or dwell on that previous situation. It’s a resolved matter, and I’ve never encountered any difficulties.”
The Messy Build-Up: Missed Pre-Season and Fitness Woes
Regrettably for Isak, Liverpool, and the Swedish national team, he has encountered numerous obstacles since his transfer to Merseyside.
In his first discussion with Liverpool’s representatives, Isak confessed uncertainty regarding his readiness for his debut. He understated the situation, describing his summer as “tricky.”
Isak’s reluctance to partake in Newcastle’s preparatory matches, including their initial trio of Premier League encounters (one against the defending champions), meant he arrived at Liverpool having been sidelined for over three months.
The mutual aspiration was for him to be involved in the Premier League match against Burnley following the September international break.
Although he played briefly in Sweden’s World Cup qualifying game in Kosovo, Slot opted not to include Isak at Turf Moor, judging it too risky.
Following Liverpool’s narrow victory on September 14, the Dutch coach explained to the media that Isak’s fitness levels upon arrival from Newcastle suggested his pre-season preparation was just commencing.
He emphasized the need for substantial training time to build a foundational fitness level before considering him for regular appearances, particularly with the demands of playing twice within a few days.
Slot elaborated on their approach, highlighting the weekly focus on preparing players for the season’s initial stages.
The plan involved gradually increasing the intensity and frequency of training to ensure players are fully conditioned for the rigorous schedule of playing two games per week.
Even though Slot had been carefully managing Isak’s return, he surprisingly put him in the starting eleven for the crucial Champions League match against Atletico Madrid just four days later. Slot himself was impressed by how well Isak performed.
“His skill wasn’t a shock, we knew he had that, but I was really pleased with how physically ready Alexander was during his hour on the field,” Slot said.
“It shows you the difference between signing a younger player from another league versus a more experienced player already used to the Premier League.
“Even though he only trained for a couple of weeks, he has played a lot of games at a high level. To compete for major titles, you need the right mindset, fitness, and talent, and we saw all of that today.”
Slot’s Dilemma: Protect the Player or Push for Results?
However, Slot’s initial hope that Isak would quickly regain his peak form proved to be inaccurate.
While Isak managed to score a skillful goal in the Carabao Cup against Southampton back in September, marking his debut goal for Liverpool, it’s been his only score of the season.
This is particularly noticeable given that he was given starting positions in three straight Premier League matches from late September to mid-October, all of which ended in losses for the team.
Although the 26-year-old did contribute to a goal with an assist during the 2-1 loss to Chelsea in early October, the pass was more of a lucky bounce from a miscontrolled attempt rather than a deliberate setup for Cody Gakpo’s goal.
In stark contrast to fellow forward Hugo Ekitike, who quickly adapted and performed well after joining from Eintracht Frankfurt during the summer, Isak seemed far from being up to speed with the demands of the Premier League.
Understandably, there wasn’t much patience or understanding for his situation, and this sentiment wasn’t limited to Liverpool fans.
“It was irresponsible and immature to not only stop giving his best effort, but to also let his physical condition decline in anticipation of a transfer,” former Liverpool player Don Hutchison stated in an interview.
“I believe his agent gave him very poor guidance throughout the summer, but the responsibility ultimately falls on the player himself.
He has a contract with Newcastle and is obligated to maintain his fitness and conduct himself professionally.
“Looking at the bigger picture, when you join a team like Liverpool, you need to be prepared to perform immediately. Now he’s behind and struggling to catch up because of his earlier actions.”
With the growing negativity and criticism directed at Isak, the timing couldn’t have been worse for Liverpool’s record signing to experience another injury.
The groin issue that caused his substitution at halftime during the Champions League game against Eintracht Frankfurt on October 22nd was inevitably connected to his limited playing time and overall conditioning.
Even manager Slot acknowledged that the setback stemmed from the “tricky situation” the team faced – essentially trying to get a player fully fit and ready to perform at his peak during the competitive season, rather than in a dedicated pre-season period.
This put extra pressure on the player and risked precisely the kind of injury he sustained. The incident further fueled concerns about his value and raised questions about the club’s strategy in integrating him into the squad.
Following the commanding 5-1 victory in Germany, Slot explained his cautious approach with the player. He noted that the player arrived with minimal preparation, requiring a carefully managed development process.
The intention was to gradually build him up to a point where he could consistently participate in two matches per week.
However, the initial attempt to accelerate this process resulted in the player’s premature departure from the game.
Slot acknowledged the external pressure to feature the player more frequently, but emphasized the need to strike a delicate equilibrium between his readiness and the team’s needs.
Regrettably, this balance proved elusive on this particular occasion, leading to the unfortunate setback. Slot expressed optimism for a positive outcome moving forward.
The current situation reflects a desire, bordering on wishful thinking rather than a solid prediction, that the player will be available for selection in the crucial Premier League clash against Nottingham Forest at Anfield on Saturday.
Following his selection as a substitute in the defeat against Manchester City on November 9th, Isak felt positive about potentially playing a substantial part in Sweden’s two World Cup qualifying matches during the recent international period.
Despite this hope, he only appeared for the last thirty minutes of the 4-1 defeat to Switzerland. Furthermore, the new manager, Graham Potter, eventually chose not to utilize him at all in the inconsequential match against Slovenia on Tuesday.
This decision stemmed from concerns that the forward could receive a yellow card, which would have prevented him from participating in the crucial play-off semi-final against Ukraine in March.
What Needs to Change and Fast
Consequently, Isak finds himself in a similar position to where he started. He undeniably requires a sustained period of consistent game time and goals to build momentum.
However, currently, it is difficult to justify selecting the Swedish player over Ekitike, who recently celebrated his inaugural goal for France, especially when Slot’s team is encountering difficulties.
This places them in a situation where they cannot afford to carry any underperforming players, especially during a critical series of upcoming matches that are absolutely necessary for them to revitalize their season and get their campaign back on track.
Undoubtedly, some might suggest that Ekitike’s current performance provides Slot with some leeway to carefully reintegrate Isak into the lineup.
To be fair to the ex-Feyenoord manager, he has consistently maintained that Liverpool would always require two high-caliber forwards this season to manage the demands of competing for the Premier League title while also aiming to surpass their previous Champions League performance.
However, Slot has also recognized the importance of getting Isak on the field as frequently as possible quickly. This creates a challenging situation for Slot in the following weeks and months.
The urgency for Isak to regain his fitness and perform at his best will only escalate. Liverpool cannot realistically justify having such a significant investment like a £125 million player sidelined or, even worse, completely unavailable.
Isak sounds optimistic about his physical condition, stating that after getting some playing time last Saturday, he feels ready to perform at his best.
He’s maintaining a positive attitude despite admitting that his preparation hasn’t been ideal. He insists on holding himself accountable, refusing to make excuses when he’s on the pitch.
This is crucial, as patience is reportedly dwindling with the club’s high-profile signing. The pressure is on for Isak to start demonstrating his value and justifying the investment made in him.
