Alexander Isak’s struggle to get going part of a wider issue at Liverpool
Liverpool’s dream summer transfer window has turned into a bit of a nightmare.
By Sam McGuire
The Premier League champions trail leaders Arsenal by four points following their third successive loss in the English top-flight. The Reds suffered a 2-1 defeat to Manchester United on Sunday in a game that loosely followed their previous two losses. Arne Slot’s side start off poorly in the first half, change things in the second half and score an equaliser. However, having thrown on so many attackers and completely disregarding the balance of the team, the Reds are then left exposed and succumb to a late winner.
There are so many similarities between the goals conceded against Crystal Palace and Man United. The Reds failed to properly clear a long throw against the Eagles while against the Red Devils it was a corner. On both occasions, the back post is exploited. Interestingly though, in all three defeats, Alexander Isak has started for Liverpool.
This can’t have been why the 26-year-old forced a move to the Merseyside club. It can’t have been what the reigning champions had expected when they agreed to pay a British record £125million to pry the centre-forward away from Newcastle United.
The Liverpool No. 9 is yet to get off the mark for his new club and in each of these starts, he’s missed at least one big chance. He was signed to be the difference-maker in the final third. He was earmarked as the man to spearhead Slot’s forward line because of how ruthless he’d been for Newcastle over the years.
He was the complete opposite of Darwin Nũńez and, to some extent, Luis Díaz. Whereas the former No. 9 was erratic in the final third and unreliable in the penalty area, Isak was as close to a guarantee as you could get. His confidence was borderline arrogance, but he was calm and composed when it mattered for the Magpies.
The champions are yet to see that player in red. His four missed big chances see him rank fourth for this metric behind Jean-Philippe Mateta (10), Erling Haaland (eight), and Dominic Calvert-Lewin (five).
Granted, Isak is having to feed off of scraps right now with Liverpool having trouble to really get going. The Reds had the best attacking numbers in the Premier League last term, averaging 2.3 goals per game with an Expected Goals per 90 average of 2.2. This term, they rank joint fourth for goals scored per game (1.8) and their Expected Goals per 90 total is down at 1.72.
For added context here, Slot’s side are on course to finish with an xG total of 65, significantly down from the 83.5 they finished with last season. While the sample size isn’t the largest, we are almost 25% into the 2025/26 campaign now.
Isak isn’t the sole reason for these struggles but he’s not helping right now, and there’s no escaping that. He’s missing opportunities and failing to make the most of the moments he’s presented with. A close range header against Chelsea was spurned and then he fired an effort almost straight at Senne Lammens from a good position against Manchester United. The most galling thing about the effort against the Red Devils was he scored against Liverpool from an almost identical position during his time with Newcastle.
The Sweden international was signed to be the difference-maker during those big moments. So far, he’s not managed to turn chances into goals. Perhaps a larger issue at play here though is that he’s not getting many chances at all.
The following needs to be caveated by saying he’s only made three starts, but Isak is averaging just 2.13 shots per 90 and his Expected Goals per 90 average is 0.34 with his Expected Goals on Target per 90 average coming in at 0.1 To top it all off, he’s averaging just 3.91 touches in the opposition box.
These numbers are considerably down on what he was posting for Newcastle prior to his £125million move to Anfield.
For Eddie Howe’s side last term, Isak had an xG per 90 of 0.66 and he was fairly accurate with his finishing with an xG On Target average of 0.65 from his 3.22 shots. He was also averaging almost seven touches in the opposition box on a per 90 basis.
Liverpool spent big money on him but, so far at least, don’t really know how to get him firing like he was at Newcastle.
What hasn’t helped the No. 9 is the fact he’s been having to play his way to fitness due to the nature of his transfer being drawn out. It’s something manager Arne Slot referenced ahead of the United game.
“I think he’s now had his five or six weeks of preseason, which is normal after being out for three or four months.
“Fitness-wise, he’s close to the level he should be, and now we can judge him fairly. If he plays twice for Sweden and doesn’t score, that’s not what you hope for, but I think his preseason is finished now.
“He’s played several games of 70, 80, and 90 minutes. Let’s see where he is in the coming weeks.”
Liverpool need the ruthless Isak who was feared by the Premier League last season. Isak needs a Liverpool team that has a clear way of playing. The sooner the latter happens, the sooner the former will make an appearance for the champions.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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