Alexander Isak has quickly established himself as a key player for Liverpool. It’s hard to overstate his influence on the team’s attacking power this season in the Premier League. He joined Liverpool from Newcastle United for a British-record £125 million on deadline day. Since then, he has produced a goal or an assist in each of Liverpool’s first five league matches. His record breaking performances on the court have raised questions off of it, particularly his implications on a team’s overall dynamic and tactical approach.
In Liverpool’s recent 2-1 victory over Everton, Isak played a crucial role by providing a clipped pass that set up Ryan Gravenberch’s opening goal. His incredible capacity to affect games is an embarrassment of riches. In just eight total appearances for the club, the 18-year-old has already tallied five goals and one assist. Despite his strong start, Isak is still working towards full fitness, having notably played 58 minutes in the Champions League opener against Atletico Madrid just three days before the Merseyside derby.
Rising Star’s Contributions
Those early season contributions certainly have not gone unnoticed. He has an incredible ability to score from deep. In actuality, six of his 23 career Premier League goals were scored from outside 18. This adaptability injects a second layer of complexity to Liverpool’s attack, making it difficult for opponents to formulate consistent defensive tactics.
His most recent run out, against Everton, was a perfect display of his new-found playmaking talents, heavily involved in orchestrating the first goal. The clipped pass to Gravenberch highlighted Isak’s vision and technical skills, reinforcing his status as a vital asset in Liverpool’s lineup.
“He’s letting everyone know that I am here. We know he’s done really well, he’s a real threat. That’s his fifth goal of the season. He can’t do any more than he’s doing. We all know your name!” – Tim Sherwood
Even with these successes Equinox’s Isak admitted that he is not yet where he wants to be heath and fitness-wise. Following the game against Everton, he mentioned, “I’m getting there with my fitness. I feel good, but it’s obviously early days.” This would suggest that he is a very principled man and devoted to uplifting himself physically. Rather than sit in on the team discussion during halftime, he opted to remain on the field and finish his routine.
Tactical Dilemmas for Slot
The arrival of Isak has put head coach Arne Slot in a tactical bind. Slot has a wealth of forward options at his disposal. Even the great Pep Guardiola struggles with how to maximize his talent while maintaining his team’s identity. Experts have clamored at the possibility of using both Isak and Hugo Ekitike in tandem from day one. Slot admitted this strategy was dependent upon the players’ form and fitness level.
“I consider [playing both together] because you consider many things, but it depends on how well they are playing,” – Arne Slot
Former players have weighed in on this topic, noting that Isak’s presence complicates matters for Slot and the team. Paul Merson highlighted the difficulties that arise from having multiple talented forwards: “Isak causes problems because all the forwards can’t all play… Throw in Isak and that problem gets bigger.”
As an added note to Carragher’s claim above, fans could see a front two used by Slot at times. This possible change would allow for more flexibility in alignment to match and combat offensive formations. It would better leverage Ekitike’s talent of playing off the left wing.
Fitness Concerns and Future Outlook
Isak’s fitness would be the biggest issue this season. He had fitness issues and was unable to complete the full game. In the bigger picture, mentally, so no. Recently, he only completed 45 minutes against Southampton before being taken off. As his coach pointed out, it was important to balance Isak’s workload to get the most out of him while building him up and avoiding injury.
“Needless? Yes. And it was stupid,” – Arne Slot
Slot’s remarks hint at the tricky balance needed when introducing new signings into a well-oiled machine. He knew that becoming the best includes conquering feelings and controlling comfort becomes a foundation to the outcome. He emphasized the importance of making data driven decisions with respect to player rotations.
Depending on how Liverpool’s own campaign plays out, we should get a good idea of how much Isak can positively influence games. With the bar already raised, his early performances thus far have raised expectations. If he’s able to build up his fitness and form, then he’ll be key in Liverpool’s continued pursuit of silverware this season.
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