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)
Michael Owen believes Alexander Isak has now “run out of excuses” and must start performing to the level expected after returning to fitness with Liverpool.
Isak’s first season at Liverpool was hugely disappointing, but came with an understanding that he arrived short of fitness and suffered a major injury.
But after a lengthy rehabilitation process and a role with Sweden at the World Cup, he can be considered fully fit and relied upon – and played his first full 90 minutes for the club on Sunday.
Misfiring again in a quiet performance against former side Newcastle, Isak was hounded by the home fans from minute one and looked to shrink under the pressure.
In an appearance on talkSPORT, Owen argued that it is now time to judge the 26-year-old to the standards he set at St James’ Park, with no more “excuses.”
“I had plenty of injuries in my career, so I know how hard it is to get back and you do need a bit of time,” Owen explained.
“And we’ve given him, everybody’s given him, time and understood that.
“But then he sort of finished the season, gone to the World Cup and now he’s had a pre-season and you just think: ‘OK, now we’re starting to run out of excuses’.
“We need to start seeing the real Isak. And we know how good he is – wow, we saw him for Newcastle, he’s absolute class.
“But we haven’t seen it for Liverpool just yet and I think questions will come now.”
Owen: Isak and Wirtz “far from it” vs. Newcastle
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)
Isak scored four goals in his 22 games for Liverpool last season, averaging only 23 touches per 90 minutes in the Premier League and missing five big chances.
Playing the full 90 against Newcastle on Sunday, the Swede made 28 touches and missed two big chances – ending the game with 1.09xG but no goals to show for it.
“As I say, I’ve always given him the benefit of the doubt in the past with Liverpool, but at the start of this season now we’re expecting [him to perform],” Owen continued.
“And Liverpool absolutely need him, they’ve lost Salah, Ekitike’s out, there’s not that many options in attacking areas.
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 22, 2026: Liverpool's Alexander Isak (R) is challenged by Newcastle United's Sven Botman 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 (R) is challenged by Newcastle United's Sven Botman during the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“They absolutely need him to be on top form. [Against Newcastle] he was far from it, I thought he was a yard off and that’s worrying.
“But so was Wirtz, I thought he was really quiet as well. It wasn’t the greatest performance for Liverpool, they actually did well to scrounge a point in the end.
“But obviously he’s the big-money signing, the headline-maker and I can’t say he played well because he really didn’t.”
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SALZBURG, AUSTRIA - AUGUST 11: Ibrahim Mbaye of Paris Saint-Germain trains during a Paris Saint-Germain Training Session prior to the UEFA Super Cup 2026 at Stadion Salzburg on August 11, 2026 in Salzburg, Austria. (Photo by Leonhard Simon - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
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Football – Pre-Season Friendly – Liverpool FC v AS Monaco
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 8, 2026: Liverpool's Harvey Elliott applauds the supporters after a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and AS Monaco FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)