Andoni Iraola clearly knows what he has got in Alexander Isak.
Liverpool’s manager has delivered a glowing assessment of the Swedish striker, describing his goalscoring ability as almost a guarantee when the team puts him in the right positions.
And I think there is an important message in those comments for the rest of the Liverpool team.
Isak doesn’t need to be reinvented. He needs to be supplied with the right opportunities.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s trip to Crystal Palace, Iraola said:
“Alex is a top goalscorer, 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.”
That is a huge vote of confidence in a player who has already shown what he can do when given the right service.
Iraola understands what makes Isak special
The Liverpool boss also highlighted several aspects of Isak’s game beyond simply putting the ball in the net.
He praised his ability to attack spaces, make runs into the channels and come towards the ball to receive possession. He also pointed to his technical quality.
Iraola added:
“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.”
That tells me Iraola wants Liverpool to play to Isak’s strengths rather than expecting him to do absolutely everything himself.
Isak is not simply a penalty-box striker. He can link play, bring others into the game, stretch defensive lines and make intelligent movements that create opportunities for his teammates.
But those movements are only useful if somebody can find him.
Liverpool’s midfield must start doing its job
This is where I believe Liverpool have a bigger problem.
We have seen Isak looking isolated in games, particularly against Arsenal, when Liverpool struggled to create clear-cut opportunities.
There is no point spending around £125 million on a striker of Isak’s quality and then failing to provide him with the ammunition he needs.
The midfield has to take responsibility.
We need more forward passes, more creativity between the lines and players willing to take risks. We cannot keep moving the ball sideways and backwards before eventually resorting to hopeful crosses.
Florian Wirtz should be central to that. He has the technical ability and vision to unlock defences, while Alexis Mac Allister must help provide the quality passing that gets Isak into dangerous positions.
Bradley Barcola and Cody Gakpo also need to contribute more consistently in the final third.
Iraola has already acknowledged that Liverpool sometimes have too much control without enough threat. He wants more players arriving in the penalty area, even if that means sacrificing a little possession.
I agree completely.
Isak needs support, not excuses
Of course, Isak isn’t beyond criticism. He can improve his overall involvement, link-up play and contribution when Liverpool aren’t creating chances.
But we should also recognise that even the best strikers need service.
You wouldn’t expect Erling Haaland to score regularly if Manchester City stopped creating opportunities for him. The same applies to Isak.
Liverpool need to make sure he is receiving the ball in positions where his movement, finishing and technical ability can hurt opponents.
The encouraging thing is that Iraola appears to understand this. His comments suggest he isn’t questioning Isak’s quality; he is looking at how Liverpool can use him more effectively.
That is exactly what I want to hear from our manager.
The verdict: Give Isak the ammunition and he will score
I have no doubts about Isak’s ability to become a prolific goalscorer for Liverpool.
He has the movement, finishing ability and technical quality to be one of the best forwards in the Premier League. But the team around him has to start providing the service.
Iraola has made his position clear. If Liverpool get Isak into the right positions, he believes the goals will follow.
Now it is up to the midfield and wide players to deliver.
We have invested heavily in a world-class striker. It is time we started playing like a team that knows how to use him.
Jamie – (The Kopite View)
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