Alexander Isak is “a few games away from his peak” after a run of consistent starts for Sweden at the World Cup, which bodes well for Liverpool’s pre-season.
Isak was an ever-present for Sweden during their run at this summer’s World Cup, starting four out of four games as they reached the round of 32.
It marked a new physical high for Liverpool’s No. 9 after a miserable debut campaign that saw him start just 13 times with his longest run in the side being three games.
Despite Sweden’s exit at the hands of France, Isak can now look to return to pre-season at Liverpool having managed four games in the space of 16 days – with a goal and three assists in the process.
Responding to criticism of Isak’s performance in the 3-0 loss to France, Sweden head coach Graham Potter described his striker as “still a few games away from his peak.”
Kosovo's Leon Avdullahu, left, challenges Sweden's Alexander Isak during the 2026 World Cup Group B qualifying soccer match between Sweden and Kosovo Monday Oct. 13, 2025 in Gothenburg, Sweden. (Bjorn Larsson/TT News Agency via AP)
“When you lose, it’s easy to point to the players and say ‘they could have done this and that’,” Potter told TV4.
“We faced top opposition. It wasn’t easy.
“[Isak] didn’t have the season he and everyone wanted him to have. He’s built himself up and he’s still a few games away from his peak physically.
“That’s what’s needed after a season like that.”
Isak clocked 359 minutes on the pitch in his four games at the World Cup, having only managed 1,032 from 22 appearances throughout the entirety of the season with Liverpool.
How Liverpool could use Alexander Isak in pre-season
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)
Now set to report back for pre-season under Andoni Iraola when Liverpool arrive for their tour of the United States in three weeks’ time, Isak can look to use that momentum.
Iraola will be without Hugo Ekitike for the foreseeable future and there are question marks over the future of Cody Gakpo and Federico Chiesa.
That could put further pressure on Isak to perform up front, but his displays for Sweden in the buildup to the World Cup and then at the tournament itself suggest he has overcome the difficulties faced after his £125 million move from Newcastle.
Those extra games needed to reach his peak could be managed over the course of pre-season, with Isak then primed to start against Newcastle on the opening weekend of the Premier League.