Alexander Isak has opened up on his summer move from Newcastle United to the reigning Premier League champions Liverpool. The 26-year-old stayed away from Newcastle’s pre-season tour of the Far East and trained alone at his former club, Real Sociedad, without manager Eddie Howe’s permission. As a result, Isak missed much of Newcastle’s pre-season and was not fully match-fit when he completed his high-profile move to Anfield on transfer deadline day.
Since joining Liverpool, Isak has struggled to find his best form. He suffered a groin injury in October that sidelined him for a month and has scored just one Premier League goal so far, in the 2-0 win over West Ham in late November. This is a far cry from his Newcastle days, where he scored 23 goals last season.
Despite the challenging start at Liverpool, Isak was awarded Swedish Men’s Player of the Year for 2025 in recognition of his performances for club and country over the calendar year. In an interview with Sportbladet, Isak described his summer exit from Newcastle as “complicated.”
The forward said: “I can say this: Things are always more complicated than they seem. I have talked about this, but I have not gone into depth. And it is not something that I want to do, based on the fact that I have put it behind me. I am focusing forward, there is no benefit in going into it or opening it up – neither for me nor for anyone else. It must remain in the past.”
Isak could start as Liverpool travel to face Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Saturday, with the Reds looking to extend their unbeaten run to six games. He added: “[Liverpool’s interest] was the most interesting thing for me. I felt quite early on that this was where I wanted to go. An overall picture. The club’s history, where the club is today and the next step it will take.
“I don’t really have the answer to that (why it’s been slow). The team – of course it has been slow, but that’s how it is in football. There are always teams that fly, and then it goes slower for others. It is important to turn it around. And for my part too, it’s not the first time in my career that I’ve gone through a period like this, or I’m in bad shape. That’s how a football career works, it’s just something you have to fight your way out of.”
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