Andoni Iraola has sung the praises of Alexander Isak heading into the weekend's Premier League game with Crystal Palace, with the Swede in strong goalscoring form
Andoni Iraola during a Champions League press conference.
Andoni Iraola during a Champions League press conference. (Image: Cemal Yurttas/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola says Alexander Isak scoring goals is "the closest thing to a guarantee" with his $169 million (£125 million) striker in strong form heading into another important weekend.
Liverpool travels to Crystal Palace in the Premier League after two successive defeats, first against Arsenal and then at Fenerbahce in the Champions League. But only Erling Haaland has scored more goals than Isak in the league so far this term.
While getting more from Florian Wirtz and Bradley Barcola is a priority for Liverpool, it has been able to rely on Isak scoring regularly at the start of the Iraola era. And the Spaniard is pleased with how he is performing.
"Alex is a top goalscorer," Iraola said during his pre-Crystal Palace press conference. "If we can put him in the position to score, he will deliver. It’s not a guarantee, but it’s the closest thing to a guarantee almost.
"Like every player, he can add more things to his game. We want to use the things that he has — he is very good also attacking the spaces, attacking the channels, coming to receive [the ball].
"I think he is technically clean also. We are trying to use him in the best way."
Alexander Isak scored for Liverpool against Fenerbahce to make it seven goals for the season
Alexander Isak scored for Liverpool against Fenerbahce to make it seven goals for the season (Image: Yagiz Gurtug/PS Images/MB Media/Getty Images)
Isak scored his first goal in the Champions League for Liverpool earlier this week, coming off the bench to head home in Istanbul. But the Reds still ended up losing that match even after the Swede put his side ahead.
"It's never easy (in Turkiye) but today I think we could and should get more out of the game," Isak said at full-time.
"It's a bit sloppy that we had the lead twice and for us to then lose the game is not good enough. Obviously we're going to be disappointed from that.
"The atmosphere is really good and it's tough, of course. So, the one thing you can do to keep them quiet is score goals.
Content Image
Content Image
"So, it's a shame that we conceded quickly and we should capitalize on that. That's where we were lacking today.
"I think we've put ourselves in good positions, so that today if we lose this game it's not a chaos situation. We just need to get back to winning ways and if we win the next game, we are back to a really good position."
Liverpool.com says: It was strange in the summer that some people appeared to have forgotten just how good Isak is. The Reds spent mega money on him for a reason.
The only issue last season was that he wasn't fit. Now he is again, it should be no surprise that Isak has started netting regularly.