Liverpool have fallen off the proverbial cliff this season, but Arne Slott’s subtle tactical adjustments over the past few weeks have steadied the ship, making them unbeaten in four Premier League games and qualifying for the Champions League with a win over Inter Milan at the San Siro.
But the Premier League champions still need to raise the bar if they are to eliminate any fears of missing out on a top-four (or five) finish, as well as continental or FA Cup appearances.
And with Mohamed Salah set to represent Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations, it’s time for Alexander Isak to step up and help his new team get back to the ascendancy.
Isak, 26, joined Liverpool from Newcastle United for a record £125 million at the end of the summer transfer window, but has struggled to get into gear.
Why Alexander Isak is struggling at Liverpool
When Isaac completed his move to Liverpool, his reputation preceded him. Slott now has a striker at his disposal who has helped Newcastle United qualify for the Champions League twice in three seasons in the Premier League, and it was his goal against Liverpool at Wembley that clinched last year’s Carabao Cup title.
He scored 27 goals in all competitions last year, and his movement and intelligence in the final third, combined with devastating shooting skills, made him a talisman worthy of starring in Europe’s finest outfit.
However, this was not the case for the Anfield side. This statistic is a little painful to look at, as Isak’s punching was clearly well below his weight class last season.
Alexander Isak – Last 2 Prem Campaigns | ||
|---|---|---|
Statistics (per 90) | 24/25 | 25/26 |
Number of points scored | 0.75 | 0.18 |
assist | 0.20 | 0.18 |
touch | 33.47 | 22.59 |
shot taken | 3.10 | 2.57 |
Pass completion rate (%) | 75.3 | 65.2 |
progressive path | 2.87 | 1.47 |
progressive carry | 2.71 | 0.92 |
The action that creates the shot | 3.00 | 0.92 |
successful take-up | 1.37 | 0.18 |
Number of balls collected | 1.80 | 1.84 |
tackle | 0.39 | 1.10 |
Data via FBref | ||
Last year, the Sweden international’s very name struck fear into defenders across England, with pundit Jamie Carragher even going so far as to describe him as “the best striker in the Premier League at the moment” during last winter’s devastating purpura.
However, since moving to Liverpool he has had a dismal performance, scoring just one goal in the Premier League and zero in the Champions League. Circumstances are important, but Isak’s form is a major concern, especially with Hugo Ekitike hitting on all cylinders, having joined the club from Eintracht Frankfurt in July.
As Slott said, “We signed him for six years instead of six months.” Still, Isak needs to improve, especially when the Reds have an up-and-coming young player with the potential to rise to the top as a free-scoring No. 9.
Liverpool teen who could steal Isaac’s shirt
When Isak joined Liverpool and donned the No. 9 shirt, it was widely assumed that he would soon establish himself as a force not only in the Premier League, but also in Europe.
But Isak is deceiving with flattery, and Keylor Figueroa may be fantasizing about the chance to spread his wings in the future by persuading the powers that be to invest faith in the academy rather than needing to sign a new striker anytime soon.
Figueroa, 19, has been hailed as a “deadly and ruthless No. 9” by Liverpool Under-21s manager Rob Page, who has seen the USMNT youth international make a disastrous start to his time in the Reds’ youth set-up.
The powerful young forward, who is the son of former Premier League star Maynor Figueroa, has scored seven goals in just nine Premier League 2 games this season, with just five of those coming at the opening whistle.
He was on the bench in Liverpool’s Carabao Cup defeat to Crystal Palace at Anfield and it is only a matter of time before he bows to his seniors in the slot.
Strength and pace are important aspects of Figueroa’s game. The American prospect, recognized as having something a little different since the off-season, could rival Isak in the future if he can maintain and develop those core traits and lead them towards something that can withstand the harsh climate of the Premier League.
Should Isaac be worried? still. As Slott has stressed, Liverpool are prepared to play the long game when it comes to record purchases.
But Isak will have to make a mark at some stage, and perhaps by then Figueroa will have built up his blocks and be ready for the professional stage.
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