Liverpool s Sporting Director Julian Ward during the FA Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Liverpool FC at Stamford Bridge. LONDON Stamford Bridge GREATER LONDON ENGLAND PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxUK Copyright: xDavidxRawcliffex P2023-04-04-Chelsea_Liverpool-57
Liverpool s Sporting Director Julian Ward during the FA Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Liverpool FC at Stamford Bridge. LONDON Stamford Bridge GREATER LONDON ENGLAND PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxUK Copyright: xDavidxRawcliffex P2023-04-04-Chelsea_Liverpool-57
Alexander Isak has shouldered much of Liverpool’s goalscoring responsibility this season, leading the club’s Premier League scorers with six goals in eight starts.
The Swedish striker has registered 22 shots, with nine on target. Only Erling Haaland, with nine goals, had scored more when Isak reached his sixth against Brighton.
His contribution marks a significant improvement on last season, when he managed just four goals in 22 appearances across all competitions, including three in the Premier League.
Isak scored again on Wednesday, heading in Cody Gakpo’s cross as a substitute in Liverpool’s 3-2 Champions League defeat to Fenerbahce. It was his first European goal for the club, coming three days after the 1-0 home defeat to Arsenal.
While Isak leads the senior attack, another striker is making an impression behind the scenes.
According to the Liverpool Echo, sporting director Julian Ward and head coach Andoni Iraola have been impressed by academy forward Will Wright, who is pushing for an opportunity in the first team.
The 18-year-old scored a hat-trick in Liverpool Under-19s’ 5-3 Youth League victory over Fenerbahce on Wednesday, taking his tally to two trebles in this season’s European campaign. He previously scored three times in a 4-2 win against LASK last month.
Wright now has 13 goals in 12 appearances for Liverpool’s academy sides this season and captains the Under-19s under Rob Page.
Liverpool signed him from Salford City in August 2025 for a reported £200,000 plus add-ons, beating competition from Arsenal. He had already made four senior appearances for Salford before moving to Anfield.
Wright also featured in Iraola’s pre-season plans, playing in several matches in the United States and at Anfield. He was named on the first-team bench four times last season but is yet to make a Premier League matchday squad under the new head coach.
Asked last month whether Iraola was keeping track of his progress, Wright told the Liverpool Echo: “I hope so.”
The youngster has also made his ambitions clear in an interview with club media, saying: “My motivation is purely to get into the first team.”
He has identified Isak and Hugo Ekitike as players he wants to learn from as he continues his development.
With his goalscoring form attracting attention, Wright will be hoping to turn that progress into a senior opportunity under Iraola.
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