Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Inter Milan wasn’t short of controversy. As well as officials being criticised, Alexander Isak has been picked out negatively, something he’s had to get used to since his Newcastle United exit.
The Reds got a late penalty as Alessandro Bastoni grabbed Florian Wirtz’s shirt. While the German international exaggerate the impact, the shirt pull was enough to hand the win to Arne Slot’s side.
The Italian media weren’t impressed with the decision. However, it’s far to say Liverpool had better chances throughout the game and Inter didn’t do enough in attack.
TuttoSport give the Swede 4.5/10, noting that he gave Francesco Acerbi and Manuel Akanji nothing to worry about. The two centre-backs found it easy to keep Isak quiet.
Gazzetta dello Sport go a step further, calling him the ‘the worst’ player on the pitch. They rate him at 5, telling their Italian audience he’s clearly not settled in at Liverpool.
Corriere dello Sport are also not impressed by the 26-year-old, handing him 5.5/10.
Alexander Isak has faced scrutiny since before he moved to Liverpool. The drawn out nature of his exit from Newcastle United – and that he essentially went on strike at Eddie Howe’s side – was always going to being more pressure.
The fee Liverpool then had to pay to Newcastle United added to that.
He’s also struggled when away with Sweden since the move, with it mentioned repeatedly in the country’s media that missing preseason, at the time when he refused to train with Newcastle United, had a big impact.