Alexander Isak reacts to Liverpool's 3-2 defeat vs AS Monaco: "It was good to be home"

That was not exactly the introduction to Anfield Andoni Iraola was hoping for. On Sunday, following three matches in the United States, Liverpool returned home for a pre-season friendly against Monaco, which proved to be the archetypal game of two halves. Alexander Isak broke the deadlock after only 15 minutes, rounding off a superb team move. Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai played a nice one-two, before the Dutchman played the ball to Isak who finished clinically.

That is something we have seen very little of from the Swede in a red shirt to date. Florian Wirtz poked home a second inside half an hour, but that was as good as it got for Iraola's team. Aleksandr Golovin halved the deficit from the penalty spot on the cusp of half time, before goals from Mika Biereth and then Paris Brunner right at the death saw Monaco leave Merseyside 3-2 victors.

Nevertheless, it was still a productive afternoon for Isak. After playing the first half against Leeds United in Chicago last Sunday, the 26 year old lasted an hour this time, before being replaced by new recruit Víctor Muñoz. Speaking after the match, Isak was certainly pleased with his afternoon's work:

"It was good. Really nice to be back at home, back in front of the fans and get some more minutes into the legs.... I feel good. Every game hopefully should take me to a better fitness level, so that's what I'm working towards. I think today felt better than the last game and hopefully the next game feels better than today. That's what pre-season is for."

Alexander Isak on Monaco match

The striker's first season at Liverpool was completely ruined by injury and a lack of fitness. Isak did not have any sort of pre-season a year ago, due to the fact he was on strike at Newcastle, in order to force through his departure. Then, once he did get up to speed, he suffered a fractured fibula in his left ankle in the act of scoring against Tottenham, which saw him sidelined for four months.

Thus, Isak knows the value of pre-season more than most, hoping for a fresh start under the new head coach Iraola. The centre-forward is seemingly enjoying working with the Spanish manager:

"Really good. I feel like the spirit is good in the group and we're all working hard to make things work. We're going to make sure that we're ready for the start."

Alexander Isak on working with Iraola

Next up for the Reds is another pre-season friendly against Como at Anfield next Sunday night. The following weekend, Liverpool will commence their Premier League campaign at St James' Park, with Isak taking on his former side for the first time since departing. Fair to say, he is not going to receive a hero's welcome back to Tyneside.

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