AFC Bournemouth v Liverpool - Premier League 2026/27 - Source: Getty
AFC Bournemouth v Liverpool - Premier League 2026/27 - Source: Getty
talkSPORT pundit Angelina Kelly has urged Liverpool to consider selling Alexander Isak, arguing that the striker has missed too many games for the Reds.
Isak has yet to feature in any match for the Merseyside club this month after sustaining a “minor thigh injury” in September while on international duty with Sweden.
Since moving to Anfield in the summer of 2025, Isak has struggled with fitness issues, having registered 29 appearances for the club so far across all competitions.
He endured an injury-hit campaign last season, and he is a doubt for Liverpool’s upcoming Premier League clash with Brentford.
“Alexander Isak was missing again [against LASK in the Champions League] and missed the crunch match against Man City. It's getting to the point where Isak needs to make a decision about the direction his career is going in as he's missing far too much football,” Kelly said.
“Since joining Liverpool, he's had three different injury spells, missed 36 games for club and country over 162 days. I know that the leg break is just unfortunate, but even looking at this campaign, he's already missed one of their biggest games of the season.”
While acknowledging Isak’s injury problems, Kelly suggested that Andoni Iraola’s style of play will only make things worse for the striker, saying the former Bournemouth boss requires his players to keep running.
“And at 27, he should be having his best years, but he's already having these injury issues and I'm concerned the stylistically, Iraola's football will only make things worse for him,” she said.
“When he signed for Liverpool, it was under Arne Slot, who had a very different and much slower style than Iraola. You fast forward and you've now got a manager who wants his players to run 24/7, 365...if Isak continues to play Iraola ball then I think he will pick up more injuries and then Liverpool will suffer by not having him available.”
Kelly names two clubs that would suit Isak if he leaves Liverpool
Speaking further, Kelly named Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain as the two teams that would suit Isak if the Reds decide to sell him.
The pundit claimed Isak would face a less physically demanding workload at either club. She also suggested that both clubs’ rotation policies could benefit him.
“He needs to play for a team and maybe play in a league where he'll have less running to do or potentially more rest. Maybe Barcelona where he could at least be rotated in La Liga. PSG have got a really good rotation policy too,” she said.
“If Liverpool could sell him on and get a similar amount of what they bought him for, they could reinvest in other areas of the squad. I mean this, not in a disrespectful way to Isak or Iraola, but I just think maybe they're the wrong people for each other at the wrong time.”
Isak’s £125 million move to Anfield broke the British transfer record and made him the most expensive player in the Reds’ history.