NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 22, 2026: Liverpool's Alexander Isak during the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 22, 2026: Liverpool's Alexander Isak during the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Alexander Isak played his first 90 minutes for Liverpool at the home of his former club in a performance that Andoni Iraola sought to find the positives in.
Isak’s first year at Anfield was besieged by injury and the knock-on effects of a lack of fitness, meaning the most minutes he played in a single match in 2025/26 was 86.
Across his 22 appearances, he played more than 80 minutes on only two occasions, and that was before he broke his leg at Tottenham before Christmas.
The striker utilised the World Cup with Sweden to build back his match fitness, having played 90 minutes three different times, and it played its part on the opening day.
Iraola kept the 26-year-old on the pitch for the full 90 minutes as his side chased a goal, a sign of things to come with depth sparse up top in the absence of Hugo Ekitike.
During his first outing of the season, as per FotMob, Isak covered the fourth-most distance of any Liverpool player (8.8km), though clocked the slowest speed of any Reds outfielder (27.8km/h).
He had 28 touches, four shots (two on target), and the second-most touches in the opposition box (six), and he won more duels than he lost (5/9).
It was not the authoritative return to Newcastle that was hoped, but Sunday’s match marked his first 90 minutes in the Premier League since May 2025.
How Andoni Iraola assessed Alexander Isak’s performance vs. Newcastle
While he was starved of clear chances on a hostile return to St James’ Park, Iraola sought to look at the positives when asked about Isak’s performance after the match.
“I think he expected a little bit the atmosphere, I don’t think [it] has been a big surprise for him,” Liverpool’s head coach told reporters during his post-match press conference.
“I think he has tried everything, has given us good positions on the ball.
“[He] probably has had a couple of situations to finish inside the box, but probably not the clearest that he wanted or we wanted, but I value that.
“He has continued pushing on in the game, fighting, and I think it’s a good step for Alex for being the first game.”
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