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Just 12 weeks have passed since Alexander Isak joined Liverpool from Newcastle United in a £125 million move that smashed the British transfer record.
Based on his reported £300,000 weekly wage, Isak has cost the Reds a further £3.6m so far.
In return, he has delivered just one goal in his first nine appearances for Liverpool, while he has yet to complete a full 90 minutes.
Alexander Isak’s first nine Liverpool games
| Date | Result | Mins | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 17 | Liverpool 3-2 Atletico Madrid (UCL) | 58 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 20 | Liverpool 2-1 Everton (PL) | 23 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 23 | Liverpool 2-1 Southampton (CC) | 45 | 1 | 0 |
| Sep 27 | Crystal Palace 2-1 Liverpool (PL) | 84 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 30 | Galatasaray 1-0 Liverpool (UCL) | 28 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 4 | Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool (PL) | 74 | 0 | 1 |
| Oct 19 | Liverpool 1-2 Man United (PL) | 72 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 22 | Frankfurt 1-5 Liverpool (UCL) | 45 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 22 | Liverpool 0-3 Nottm Forest (PL) | 68 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 497 | 1 | 1 | |
Alexander Isak branded a “flop” by fans
It seems a bit soon into his Liverpool career for the title of “flop” to stick, but that is exactly how thousands of fans currently see Alexander Isak, based on countless messages on social media.
His slow, ineffective start has already left some supporters pining for the chaos and unpredictability of Darwin Nunez, who left for Al-Hilal in August.
It is not just the lack of goals that has turned opinion. Isak’s body language, his limited movement and his struggle to get fully match-fit have added to the frustration.
A striker signed for £125m is expected to lift a team, not drift through a game with 14 touches before being substituted. But that is exactly what happened against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, when Isak failed to record a single shot on target during a dismal 68-minute cameo.
Saturday’s defeat at Anfield also saw Isak become the first Liverpool player ever to be on the losing side in each of their first four Premier League starts.
Who is to blame for Alexander Isak’s awful start at Liverpool
Striking Isak is responsible for his own fitness issues
One reason behind Isak’s sluggish start to his Liverpool career is obvious: he arrived unfit.
Isak chose to force his way out of Newcastle by refusing to train in the final weeks of the summer, sacrificing his pre-season in the process. That decision has followed him to Anfield.
Since joining, he has looked short of sharpness, off the pace and unable to match the intensity Liverpool’s system demands. His movement has been inconsistent, teammates have shown visible frustration at times, and he has struggled to impose himself physically in any of his Premier League appearances.
None of that removes the fact Isak — who scored 52 goals in his last two seasons for Newcastle — is a hugely talented striker. But Liverpool have so far seen little more than a shadow of the player Newcastle relied on so heavily.
Liverpool were too slow in sealing Isak deal
If Isak must answer for his own preparation, Liverpool have questions to answer too. They identified him as a top target as early as April. All their data pointed in his favour. They believed he would elevate a title-winning squad. But despite this, the club still allowed the Isak transfer saga to drag into deadline day.
By the time the deal was forced through, Newcastle were angry, Isak was unprepared, and Liverpool were needing to integrate a record signing with no pre-season, no rhythm and no understanding with his new teammates.
Had Liverpool pushed the transfer through earlier, he would have arrived fitter and better prepared. Instead, an already unsettled squad inherited a centre-forward not yet physically ready to play the role they needed him to play. The delay created a problem Liverpool are still dealing with almost three months on.
Alexander Isak broke the British transfer record when he joined Liverpool for £125m, but he has flopped at Anfield since then
Was Alexander Isak ever the right man for Liverpool?
This is the question now hanging over the entire situation. Arne Slot called Isak “maybe the best striker in the world” shortly after his arrival. But even if he had signed in perfect condition, would he ever have been the ideal stylistic fit?
Liverpool signed two central forwards following Diogo Jota’s tragic death, with Isak arriving almost six weeks after Hugo Ekitike. So far, it is Ekitike who looks the more natural option for Slot’s system. His pressing, movement and willingness to chase lost causes mirror the qualities Liverpool relied on during their peak years under Jurgen Klopp.
Isak is built differently. He relies on space, quick transitions and early passes into the channels. Premier League opponents no longer give Liverpool that kind of space. They sit deep, crowd the penalty area and force the Reds to break them down patiently.
That environment neutralises some of Isak’s biggest strengths. At Newcastle, he had room to run into. At Liverpool, he often spends entire halves pinned between two centre-backs with little service and no space to work in.
The qualities that made him one of the league’s most exciting forwards have not been visible since his arrival on Merseyside.
This does not mean Liverpool bought the wrong player. But it does raise a legitimate question about whether they bought the ideal player for the system they are currently using.
