Alan Shearer looks on ahead of Manchester City's UEFA Champions League match against Feyenoord at the Etihad Stadium.
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Positivity has continued to grow at Liverpool this week after the Reds knocked Chelsea out of the Carabao Cup on penalties to record a fifth successive victory.
It was not always the prettiest performance from Liverpool, with Andoni Iraola’s changes to his XI contributing to a slightly disjointed display, but there were still more than a few reasons for supporters to be cheerful.
According to Alan Shearer, one of them is the burgeoning partnership between Alexander Isak and Bradley Barcola, who Shearer spotted coming off the bench to link up well together as their understanding begins to grow.
What were your thoughts on some Liverpool fans booing Jordan Henderson? Is that the way to treat a club legend? 🤔
Don’t get it really, needless. It’s not like he moved from Liverpool to Chelsea either. It’s the end of his career, just let the guy go out in peace😅
Deserved and completely unsurprising. Even if you take away the way he left, he’s playing for Chelsea. Doesn’t matter how long you were at the club before.
Ridiculous. He didn’t even do anything to irate home fans
Alexander Isak and Bradley Barcola’s partnership flourishes
If Liverpool are to challenge for silverware this season, they really need Isak and Barcola to step up. Along with Florian Wirtz, the pair were bought to give the Reds the edge when competing for trophies.
Thankfully, the signs are there that things are beginning to click between them. Barcola has set Isak up to score in each of the last two Premier League games, and though they only shared the pitch for eight minutes against Chelsea, Shearer says he saw some more positive moments there as well.
“I have been super impressed with Ngumoha, obviously we did them in the Champions League last week and he was outstanding,” the pundit told The Rest Is Football when asked to pick Liverpool’s best current front three by Gary Lineker.
“But there seems to be something clicking with Isak and Barcola. Even just little bits last night [Wednesday] where I look at their movement and their understanding and when and how to pass to each other. I just think there’s something brewing between those two.
“So, Ngumoha, Isak and Barcola, then you’ve got Munoz in there as well and Wirtz as a 10 or whatever, but that front three I think.”
Micah Richards agreed on Shearer’s choice of front three, but did also give a special mention to the ‘underrated’ Cody Gakpo.
“You know who I think’s very underrated for Liverpool, and I know he can be frustrating for Liverpool fans, but Gakpo’s always in the right position,” he said.
“He always works really hard off the ball and gets into some really good positions. Yes, he doesn’t always score or play the right pass, but for the way Liverpool want to play, I think Gakpo is important, I really do. But in terms of the most electrifying front three, Barcola’s got to be in there, Rio’s got to be in there and Isak’s got to be in there.”
READ MORE: Details of Alexis Mac Allister’s potential Liverpool contract emerge as Andoni Iraola influence felt
Liverpool are getting the best out of Isak – Shearer
Shearer also touched a little further on Isak and his return to form, claiming that it is not only his link up with Barcola which has led to an improvement from the Swede.
“I think there’s definitely an understanding of how to get the best out of him [Isak] now,” he said.
“I know he’s had injuries and form and everything else, but I do think they’re starting to play it earlier to him, both from wide positions and from midfield in behind.
“That’s how you get the best out of him and that’s starting to work. And with his confidence and his belief, because he’s been through a tough time. He’s a very, very talented forward.”
Getting more out of Isak will be crucial to Liverpool this season, and with Barcola – and other teammates providing a quicker delivery into him – Andoni Iraola is starting to do that.