Iraola faces tactical challenge to unlock Isak after 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest
Alexander Isak scored his 58th Premier League goal as Liverpool drew 2-2 with Nottingham Forest at Anfield on Saturday in the Premier League. The Sweden striker’s goal came in a match where he was largely peripheral, leaving questions about how manager Andoni Iraola will get the best from a high-cost signing.
Liverpool resisted paying more than the club-record £125m they spent on Alexander Isak last summer while negotiating with Paris St-Germain for Bradley Barcola. The £123m deal for Barcola is expected to be completed over the coming days, which would make the France winger the 10th £100m player in Premier League history; none of those transfers have cost more than Isak. Isak had scored 44 Premier League goals across his final two seasons at Newcastle but managed only three goals in 14 top-flight appearances in an injury-hit first campaign at Anfield, and Iraola has drawn his first two matches as Liverpool manager.
Despite a sharp pre-season and strong displays for Sweden at the World Cup, Isak was largely ineffective in the Anfield draw after a mixed recent run, having struggled on his return to Tyneside the previous weekend. In the first half against Forest he registered six touches, one accurate pass and zero shots, prompting ex-England goalkeeper Joe Hart to say: "It is clear that Liverpool haven't worked out how to play with Alexander Isak yet. At Newcastle everything flowed through him. That was down to a trust thing that they had built up over time - their midfield knew exactly where he was and they didn't even need to look up as he'd be there waiting. At Liverpool that trust just isn't there at the moment - no-one is feeling it and he isn't that central point, which is leading to him looking lost and isolated."
Anfield’s directors' box included incoming vice-chairman Amit Bhatia, principal owner John Henry and sporting director Richard Hughes as the game unfolded. Isak levelled the scores after the break, adding seven more touches in the second half and timing his run to meet a Cody Gakpo delivery for his first goal of the season; he said to TNT Sports: "That's the job ultimately as a striker [to score goals]. I am very happy to score the first one and hopefully it just keeps coming." Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard described the strike as "big" for both the player and the team.
Hart warned Iraola faces difficult choices over how to build his side around Isak, saying: "Andoni Iraola has some big decisions to make. Does he base his team round him [Isak] or does he try to find a different solution within his squad? In my opinion he's got to commit to what the club have done by investing so heavily in Isak. There's no point signing these players if you aren't going to use them properly and play to their strengths. There's no doubting Isak's quality - they are just at a bit of a crossroads at the moment." Inside the club there remained a view last season that Isak was a long-term signing and judgment should wait until he was fully fit. Only Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah and Ollie Watkins have scored more Premier League goals since Isak's first season in England, and with Salah now out of the picture and Hugo Ekitike out injured the onus on Isak to deliver has increased.
Liverpool’s opening two league fixtures have both finished 2-2, with the side recording 60% possession against Newcastle last week and 70% against Forest while trailing in both matches and yet to lead this season. That sequence presents a different challenge for Isak, who was a force in a counter-attacking Newcastle team and faces a distinct proposition against low blocks. Hart added: "As an attacking force it isn't flowing for Liverpool. With the physical nature of the Premier League and with them not 100% sure on what they are doing at the moment, teams are stomping all over them. It's going to take a whole lot of work from Iraola and his staff on the training pitch, but he is a top coach and they have top players."
When asked whether he sets targets for the season, Isak replied: "Not really. I think every striker wants to score [in] every game he plays. Obviously that's difficult but [we take] each game at a time." The appearance at Anfield was described in the report as an improvement on his showing against Newcastle, but it added that he will know he can — and must — do better.
Iraola has drawn his first two matches in charge of Liverpool and the team have yet to be ahead in a Premier League game this season, leaving tactical decisions over Isak’s role a central issue for upcoming fixtures.
