Alexander Isak finally got off the mark in the Premier League for Liverpool against West Ham, but he has been told to enjoy his football more.
Connor O'Neill and Kieran Horn Digital Sports Journalist
15:12, 04 Dec 2025
Alexander Isak in action for Liverpool.
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Alexander Isak has been brutally laid into after not overly celebrating his first Premier League goal for Liverpool.(Image: (Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images))
Alexander Isak has been branded the 'Prime Minister of Misery' after declining to show any joy following his first Premier League goal for Liverpool. The £125million signing had only scored one goal prior to that strike at London Stadium with it coming against Southampton in the Carabao Cup
That brutal verdict on the Sweden international follows an impressive first-time finish upon the hour-mark from a Cody Gakpo cross during Sunday's 2-0 victory against West Ham United. The Dutchman then sealed the win for his side with a stoppage-time effort.
Yet Isak's demeanour after putting his team ahead against the Hammers was far from celebratory. TalkSPORT presenter Jeff Stelling noted: "He scored a great goal, but his celebration was grim-faced. Alexander Isak is the Prime Minister of misery."
Alexander Isak in action for Liverpool.
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Alexander Isak has struggled to show his best form for Liverpool so far.(Image: (Photo by Izzy Poles - AMA/Getty Images))
Responding to Stelling's observations, his talkSPORT co-host Ally McCoist commented: "He's playing in a position where one of Liverpool's greatest goalscorers when he scored a goal, his face lit up a stadium and that was Kenny Dalglish.
"There was never a happier scorer of a goal than Kenny. I like my goalscorers to be happy.
"The whole object of the game is to put the ball in the back of the net. When you do it why don't you just enjoy it and put a smile on your face. It looked as though he's got the world on his shoulders."
Stelling then made an appeal to Isak - regarding what he could do differently - to win over disgruntled Liverpool supporters: The former Sky Sports host said: "He looks like he has with that price-tag. Look, he hasn't delivered so far, for whatever reason. I suspect he probably will.
Arne Slot and Alexander Isak shake hands.
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Arne Slot chatted about Alexander Isak after his goal for Liverpool vs West Ham.(Image: (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images))
"At the moment, he needs to get fans onside somehow and, maybe, show a bit of joy and a little bit of passion. That might help."
After netting at the London Stadium, Isak - who subsequently drew a blank against Sunderland on Wednesday evening at Anfield - admitted: "I'm aware that it's been a long time coming. I've been trying to get back to my best form and I'm still on the way.
"But I'm happy to have that goal. It's a mix [of feelings], of course. The most important [and] best feeling is we won the game, that's the best way to get a good spirit within the group, and that's helpful for the individual as well. But, of course, I'm a striker, so scoring goals will always help me."
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When asked about the strike, Slot replied: "It's very important for us as a team that we went 1-0 up, but I think it was also important for him because I think it was his third or fourth chance of this game.
"I don't think there was much more than ten minutes in him to go, so then to score just before you come off was important for us, but also for him."
Isak's morale would have taken another hit after the 1-1 stalemate against Sunderland. The striker was unable to make an impact on the score-line and he was subbed off with just five minutes remaining, as the Reds pursued a crucial goal.