Alexander Isak has done very little to justify his British record transfer fee after moving from Newcastle United to Liverpool for £125million last summer.
In fairness, he’s been plagued by injuries – breaking his leg just three months into his Liverpool career. But even when he did feature, he looked a shadow of his former self – beleaguered by the weight of his transfer fee and struggling for sharpness.
Last term, he scored just four goals in 22 appearances. That said, those numbers are slightly skewed given he only played 1,033 minutes – the equivalent of 11 full 90s.
Making just his second pre-season appearance on Sunday after returning from the World Cup – where he scored once in four outings for Sweden – Isak gave a much stronger account of himself in a 3-2 defeat against Monaco.
Alexander Isak scored in Liverpool’s 3-2 defeat against Monaco on Sunday
Helped by Andoni Iraola’s dynamic one-touch football, Isak was much more involved in play than he was under Arne Slot. The 26-year-old capped off a scintillating Liverpool move, taking Ryan Gravenberch’s lay-off in his stride and burying it into the bottom corner with his right foot from 18 yards.
It was a move of intricate detail, with five one-touch passes releasing Isak into space in the penalty area. Those moves are a hallmark of an Iraola team, playing into Isak’s strengths as a lethal finisher and intelligent mover.
Cody Gakpo was an integral part of Liverpool’s attack for an hour, despite being linked with a move to Premier League rivals Spurs. He was the catalyst for much of Liverpool’s link-up play, kickstarting the tiki-taka football to create space.
The Dutchman also found himself in space at the far post and was denied by a great stop from Lukas Hradecky when attempting to convert Lewis Koumas’ tempting cross. It was a lively performance on the left.
Equally, on the opposite side, Koumas was given the nod over Rio Ngumoha and impressed as Iraola seeks solutions to replace Mohammed Salah. The 20-year-old was lively, registering four shots, constantly looking for the ball and dipping a nice cross into the penalty area. He is, though, a little raw. Federico Chiesa came on for the final 15 minutes.
Jeremy Jacquet was left out of the Liverpool side again as he continues his recovery from shoulder surgery. The 21-year-old arrived from Rennes in a £60million deal in July, having pre-agreed a move to Merseyside in January, but he has yet to feature in pre-season.
With Liverpool’s opening game of the season just 14 days away, his lack of minutes is a concern – particularly given the limited options available to play alongside Virgil van Dijk.
Liverpool only have Joe Gomez and Giovanni Leoni, both currently injured, to call upon as understudies after Ibrahima Konate left for Real Madrid. Ifeanyi Ndukwe, who started alongside van Dijk on Sunday, was not granted a work permit and will have to join a European club on loan. Wataru Endo also spent time at centre-back, but that should be a last resort during the season.
Therefore, the impending arrival of Ronald Araujo on loan from Barcelona is pivotal. His experience would add further solidity to a Liverpool defence that was leaky last season, conceding 53 goals in the Premier League, while also ensuring they have sufficient depth should Jacquet’s recovery take longer than expected.
Their defensive woes were on show against Monaco, as they conceded three times to squander a two-goal lead – Araujo’s arrival cannot come soon enough.
Liverpool will be frustrated that Ndukwe cannot form part of their centre-back contingent this season. The Austrian teenager, signed from Austria Wien, has dazzled during pre-season and did not look out of place partnering van Dijk in the Liverpool backline.
In a 45-minute showing against Monaco, he was composed, unbeaten in his duels and flawless on the ball. One turn on the ball, in particular, was astonishing. However, he is ineligible to play competitive fixtures in England as he does not yet qualify for a work permit.
Competitive first-team appearances in a European top-flight will aid his case for a permit, which means he will spend this season – certainly the first half of it – out on loan to appease the Home Office. If this audition was anything to go by, he will have plenty of options.
