We thought the signing of Alexander Isak would be the absolute piece de resistance.
It was the most brazen move ever, the Premier League champions flexing their financial muscle and revered status to pluck the most in-form striker from the toughest division in world football and slot him straight into the team.
In a parallel universe, this end-of-season review waxes lyrical about Isak somehow finding an even greater level, plundering over 30 goals in his debut campaign as Liverpool made an awkward mockery of the English top flight en route to defending their title with remarkable ease.
How differently things have panned out.
The writing felt somewhat on the wall that things may not quite go to plan for the British transfer record signing, but to endure a complete campaign from hell seemed unthinkable.
Started13
As Sub9
Unused2
Goals4
Assists1
Total Apps22
A delayed start that Isak never shook off
The snowball effect set in motion. A non-existent pre-season led to undercooked fitness, leading to a late introduction into a soon-to-be struggling team and then, right on cue, an extreme injury.
Not just the level of a strain, but broken bones. It’s been a total write-off.
And yet, though the jury remains out. There have still been signs that the elite footballer who tortures defenders is still inside there somewhere.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 16, 2025: Liverpool's Alexander Isak during a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of the UEFA Champions League match between Liverpool FC and Atlético de Madrid. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
The fitness has been lacking, the touch beyond rusty, but moments like the reactionary goal against West Ham, the instinctive touch and finish against Crystal Palace, the run and rattling of the back of the net against Tottenham: each tiny segments of pure, high octane Isak.
An unavoidable truth is Liverpool haven’t once played for their record signing this season.
Isak’s delayed introduction saw Hugo Ekitike get off the ground handsomely, with Arne Slot seemingly unsure how to juggle the pair thereafter.
Isak’s debut, coming as a 57th minute substitute for Ekitike against Atletico Madrid in September, saw him register 25 touches with four inside the opposition box, two shots in total and one on target.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, September 17, 2025: Liverpool's Alexander Isak during the UEFA Champions League match between Liverpool FC and Atletico Madrid FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Not by any means a poor first cameo outing, but the Champions League would soon become something of a red herring for Liverpool.
In this same match against Atletico, Isak made two passes into the final third and created one chance, while being dispossessed zero times.
The more open, expansive play of European football suited the Reds, who quickly started to come unstuck domestically.
Isolated up front
LONDON, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 27, 2025: Liverpool's Alexander Isak reacts to Crystal Palace's goalkeeper Dean Henderson save during the FA Premier League match between Crystal Palace FC and Liverpool FC at Selhurst Park. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Looking back on the campaign, big wins against the likes of Atletico, the eventual semi-finalists, Real Madrid and Inter Milan stand out.
Yet, back in the Premier League the tide rapidly changed. Minor opponents nullified Slot’s football with low-block deadlocks, while the supposed more able sides focused on set-piece marginal gains and smash-and-grab winners.
The overall end product for Isak was nothing short of terrible.
The £125 million man quickly became an isolated figure during his Liverpool outings. While desperately searching to rediscover top level fitness, Isak found himself hardly passed to by his new teammmates.
LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, November 30, 2025: Liverpool's goalscorer Alexander Isak acknowledges the travelling supporters after the FA Premier League match between West Ham United FC and Liverpool FC at the London Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Chances in possession became so few and far between that when they did arrive, into the feet of his match-shy body, it often resulted in little.
Isak finishes the season having played just 703 Premier League minutes for the Reds, bringing in a total of three goals. The wider stats tally with this, which is perhaps cause for concern.
As per Fotmob, Isak had a Premier League expected goals (xG) final tally of 2.65 and an xG on target of 2.83.
This wasn’t, therefore, a footballer struggling to get games but looking like a world beater when he did. The unfortunate truth is Isak has been playing catchup since day one, and that race never looked close to being ran.
Have Liverpool played to Alexander Isak’s strength’s?
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, May 9, 2026: Liverpool's Alexander Isak during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
It’s both difficult and unjust to place too much criticism on Isak given the multitude of setbacks he’s faced, along with the general downturn in Liverpool’s form and the dramatic sideshow that has been going on with talisman Mo Salah, but even in some of the biggest games he appeared painfully anonymous.
Handed a starting spot against rivals Everton for the first Merseyside derby at the Hill Dickinson stadium, Isak registered just five touches and one shot on target. He won zero duels and produced just one touch made inside the Everton box.
What Liverpool essentially have with Isak is a masterpiece of a murder weapon. Pull the trigger and it’s over.
The issue is this weapon has to be set up in the right space and loaded to perfection, then the job takes care of itself.
Isak is never going to be an all-action, tireless runner who harries the opposition back line before stealing the ball and weaving through them to finish.
The Swedish international is the man Liverpool have to have on the last line after creating the attack themselves, all but without him. He’s a finisher by the very definition of the word.
The Liverpool hierarchy, we can only hope, have always known this. It comes as little surprise that the club pulled out all the stops to acquire Isak and Florian Wirtz.
The German, while his debut campaign may have felt a little lukewarm, has quietly led the way when it comes to big chance creation across the top flight and indeed Europe’s top divisions.
In an ideal world, Liverpool have a robust and fully functioning system which bends opponents into a submission, before allowing Wirtz to work his magic and release Isak through on goal.
Isak can certainly turn things around in a Liverpool shirt next season and give fans the much needed excitement they crave, that feeling soon realised of having one of the best strikers in world football.
But the hard work has to start now, straight through the World Cup and into a fresh pre-season.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, May 9, 2026: Liverpool's substitute Alexander Isak on the bench before the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC at Anfield. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Isak’s role in the coming 12 months will again hinge on what happens in the transfer window, though his currency will be goals and the eagle-eyed critics will be out from day one. Nowhere to hide.
He has already shown a glimpse this summer of his old self, scoring a fantastic solo goal for Sweden in a pre-World Cup friendly.
The arrival of Andoni Iraola could also herald a fresh start for Isak; the new coach likes to play with a No. 9 and will hope to get the best of his new striker, like he did Dominic Solanke.
Signing off for the season, Isak issued a brief social media post pledging better things to come in his second campaign as the No. 9 at Anfield. It’s a famous shirt, and it’s very much time to deliver.
Best moment: His performance and goal against Tottenham.
Worst moment: Effectively breaking his leg while scoring said goal against Tottenham – sums up the season that really.
Role next season: Hopefully an early exit from the World Cup (sorry, Sweden fans), and get a proper pre-season in his legs so he can play consistently – completing 90 minutes would be nice, too!