After last season's disastrous campaign, finishing fifth and losing 20 times in all competitions, Andoni Iraola was tasked with, quite simply, making Liverpool better. Well, one of the easiest ways he can achieve this is by getting the best out of Alexander Isak.
The Swede's first campaign at the club certainly did not go to plan, scoring just four times across all competitions, suffering a gruesome broken leg at Tottenham just before Christmas. Well, by netting against Nottingham Forest, followed by a quick-fire double at Ipswich, he has already matched his Premier League goals tally of three from last season.
Inside NINE minutes Alexander Isak has two goals! ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/3UGq0bwqRm
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 4, 2026
Speaking to Liverpool's official website prior to Saturday's clash with Fulham on Merseyside, the Swedish striker spoken openly about the difficulties he has endured since becoming a red:
"It has been challenging of course, with a lot of injuries especially. But there have been some beautiful moments as well, good learning moments. I take all of that as stuff to help me get better and get stronger, not looking back too much and just focusing on what’s ahead."Alexander Isak
The 26 year old also wanted to thank the Liverpool fans for their unwavering support, in spite of his disappointing performances for the club.
"[The backing of Liverpool fans] means a lot. Obviously, I’ve known and seen how brilliant the fans are at this football club. I was really excited about coming here and being a part of that relationship between the club and the players and the fans. You can really feel that. It’s really something valuable. It’s brilliant support all the time, even during difficult times for the team. They have been brilliant so far as long as I’ve been here."Alexander Isak
The Reds' most-recent Premier League outing was truly the first time Isak took centre stage as a Liverpool player in a positive way. His two quick-fire early goals secured victory at Portman Road, and the centre-forward was serenaded by the 3,000 travelling reds in the Cobbold Stand.
The chant "Isak's a Red" is a spin off of the song his former fans up in Newcastle sing against him since his departure. This is not one fit for publication but, as one can imagine, it is not complimentary. As Isak says himself, he wants to look forward, hoping to rediscover the level that saw him be widely considered one of the best strikers in the Premier League. He is clearly ultra-motivated to achieve this, stating the following:
"[vs Ipswich] is how I want to play and that’s how I want to score goals. I was certainly happy with that. But as I said, it’s early days and I’ve got to keep going. I feel good, I feel like I’m in a good place. With the team as well, we’re getting better and better... It’s just about keeping this rhythm. "Alexander Isak
Alexander Isak is eager to keep creating a rhythm and build on his goalscoring start to the new campaign 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/GAzg8qozX0
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 11, 2026
As he alludes to himself, keeping Isak fit will, first and foremost, be key to his success. He has started all four matches so far this season while, last time round, he did not manage four successive Premier League starts at any point. He will achieve this for the first time in red against Fulham on Saturday.
After that, it will be interesting to see if he is also in the lineup for the EFL Cup tie against Tottenham Hotspur. Given that Hugo Ekitiké is sidelined long-term, and Cody Gakpo dealing with an abductor issue, there is no obvious back-up centre-forward. Will Wright, who is 18 years old and yet to represent the club in a competitive match at senior level, is who deputised for Isak during pre-season.
Thus, Iraola needs to carefully manage his minutes, given how much of an enormous difference a fully fit and firing Isak will make.
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