UPDATE: Alexander Isak is under fire following his lackluster performance in Liverpool’s 3-0 loss to Nottingham Forest on September 30, 2023. Former Liverpool player Jason McAteer has publicly challenged Isak, emphasizing that the striker can no longer blame his limited pre-season for his underwhelming start at Anfield.
Isak, who made a British record £125 million transfer from Newcastle United on transfer deadline day, has struggled to make an impact since joining Liverpool. He spent the summer training alone, effectively going on strike to facilitate his exit from St. James’ Park. Now, Isak is yet to score in the Premier League, with his lone goal for Liverpool coming in the League Cup against Championship side Southampton.
During the match against Nottingham, Isak was largely ineffective, managing to touch the ball just 14 times and making unwanted history as the first player in Liverpool’s history to lose all four of his first Premier League starts.
In a stark evaluation on the Official Liverpool FC Podcast, McAteer expressed his disappointment over Isak’s “anonymous” display, stating, “He needs to do more. You can’t keep churning the narrative that we are going to give him game-time. He is a professional footballer and knows what he needs to do.”
McAteer pointed out a lack of urgency in Isak’s play, highlighting a missed opportunity in the second half to follow up on a potential goal-scoring chance. “You’ve got to be there to score goals. He’s thinking about it too much,” he remarked.
Moreover, the former Liverpool star criticized Isak for backing out of a critical tackle, which he believes led to the Anfield crowd turning against the striker. “I have got to bring it up, there was an opportunity to make a really good tackle in the middle of the park and he backed out of it,” McAteer said. “That’s the last thing you need when you’re in that position.”
This mounting pressure on Isak comes at a crucial time for Liverpool, as they aim to regain momentum in the Premier League. Fans are eager to see a turnaround from their marquee signing, with many now questioning whether he can meet the high expectations set by his transfer fee.
As Liverpool prepares for their next match, all eyes will be on Isak. Can he turn his performance around and silence the critics? Fans are anxiously awaiting his response, with the urgency for improvement palpable among the Anfield faithful.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.
