With the club season in Europe now officially in the books, the focus has shifted fully to international football and the coming 2026 World Cup.
National teams are making final adjustments, cuts, and tweaks to their sides. We are seeing friendly matches that could give glimpses of what is to come over the summer, and club supporters are following their favorite stars with earnest interest around the globe.
One of those players everyone at Liverpool will be keenly interested to see how they do, is Alexander Isak. The £125 million man himself is coming off a tumultuous debut campaign at Anfield mired by injuries.
However, during Sweden's friendly on Monday against their bitter rivals Norway, Isak gave everyone a reminder of just why the Reds were so eager to sign him last summer.
A brilliant solo effort shakes off fitness doldrums
While Norway was up 3-0 entering the final quarter hour, Isak wanted to leave his mark. He picked up the ball wide left, and burst forward with a pace and confidence we did not often see from him in red.
He worked his way beyond multiple Norwegian defenders using tight ball control and composure, before unleashing a sterling curled effort into the far post for the goal. It was a true masterpiece.
That was the brilliance we saw at Newcastle United and so often for Sweden. It's also a good indicator that he is feeling much more like himself heading into the World Cup and beyond, which bodes well for both Sweden and potentially Liverpool, if this form continues.
Isak had a horror of a time this season after missing the entire preseason before eventually breaking his leg early in the year while scoring a goal. Not to mention the seemingly enormous disconnect between the tactics being laid out and what he does best, which is what we saw on Monday.
They say form is temporary, but class is permanent. Liverpool fans are desperate for that to ring true in this case, and Isak's brilliant goal is a green flag that he still has it in him, and in spades.
A glimpse into what is to come
Obviously, first and foremost, club and country will be hoping there is no Alexander Isak injury concerns over the summer.
However, if he stays fit, playing with this confidence should see him net at least a few goals during the World Cup, if not more depending on how far Sweden can actually go in the tournament.
That would be a perfect launching pad for our No. 9 into the new era at Anfield. With Arne Slot sacked over the weekend, and Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola tabbed to be the next man up, Isak coming into preseason high on form, fitness and belief could be a scary thought for the rest of England.
This goal highlights everything that Iraola will want from his star forward, and it is something that was not often encouraged under Slot.
Entering his second season with the club, scoring goals like this for his country on the big stage, Isak should be a man on a mission, especially with Hugo Ekitike still recovering from a severe achilles injury.
Whereas in Slot's system, the No. 9 was often isolated and left to fend for themselves, or largely ignored, Iraola will want his side fast in transition and getting after defenses quickly.
The high-press in combination with the expressionism that the Spanish coach wants to see from his players means that Isak could be ready to repay that huge fee after all.
His breathtaking goal on Monday for Sweden might just be the start of what we have all been yearning for. For now, let's take it one goal at a time and see where we are in a few months time.
Add us as a preferred source on Google