Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler thinks the Reds aren’t playing to Alexander Isak‘s strengths, but things could improve due to Mo Salah‘s exit.
Few are more qualified to talk about a Premier League striker’s trials and tribulations than Fowler, who scored 183 goals for Liverpool.
He averaged one goal in every two appearances for the Reds across all competitions, and there are very few who can match him.
Isak, however, did manage to achieve a slightly better goals per game ratio during his time at Newcastle, netting 62 goals in 109 appearances (0.56 goals per app).
While that form hasn’t yet followed him to Liverpool since arriving for £125 million last summer, Fowler is confident that Isak will come good.
“He’s brilliant. I mean I spoke before about Alexander Isak being one of these players again who can change games,” Fowler told This Is Anfield.
“He’s a player that Liverpool have earmarked for maybe life after Mo.
“Okay, they’re different positions obviously, but there’s going to be a role for him. But that means bringing other players in different roles to try and help him.”
The former Liverpool man went on to explain why he doesn’t think Liverpool’s system, which has seen Isak mostly play alone up front in an attacking three, suits the Swede.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, October 19, 2025: Liverpool's Alexander Isak during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Manchester United FC at Anfield. Man Utd won 2-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“Probably playing the way we have this year didn’t help Isak,” Fowler added.
“It didn’t help [Hugo] Ekitike [too], because obviously players (wingers) coming inside and trying to feed balls in, when as a striker you want someone to be whipping balls in so you can go and attack the front post or go and attack the far post.
“So we’re probably not playing to their strengths. That tells me that Liverpool have always had a little bit of a plan in the future to bring them in.
“Maybe no one will ever admit this, but maybe this season’s a bit of a write-off in terms of that while we sort of transition.
“I mean I hate that word, transition, but maybe that was the bigger plan all along, the bigger picture, still wanting to do well and still believing that we will do well, of course.
FRANKFURT, GERMANY - Wednesday, October 22, 2025: Liverpool's Alexander Isak during the pre-match warm-up before the UEFA Champions League match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Liverpool FC at the Waldstadion. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“But he’s a player who will score goals and I think he’ll be brilliant for Liverpool.”
Playing in a formation closer to the 4-2-2-2 we saw against Galatasaray at home could be an option for the Reds, with Ekitike able to partner Isak.
However, Arne Slot has always played with wingers and the transfer links ahead of the summer point to wide men, rather than centre-forwards, being the priority.
Mo Salah announcement could “galvanise” Liverpool
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, March 18, 2026: Liverpool's goal-scorer Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal, his 50th in the Champions League, during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 2nd Leg match between Liverpool FC and Galatasaray A.?. at Anfield. Liverpool won 4-0 (4-1 on aggregate). (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
While the news of Salah’s departure was met with sadness by supporters, Fowler thinks it may actually give Liverpool a boost for the rest of the campaign.
Fowler believes his exit may be coming at the right time, saying: “Have we seen the best of Mo this year? Now I’ll be honest with you, no.
“But his numbers have still been good and when you look at what he’s brought his football club in in the years he’s been here, I mean he’s been absolutely exceptional.
“And there comes a time when you think, well, maybe we are coming towards the end of his career, certainly in the Premier League or I don’t know what he’s going to do.
“But I think it galvanises everyone now and it gives that little bit of lift.
“We’ve seen where we are in the league and obviously we’re not going to win the Premier League, but I think this news will give everyone that little bit of a lift to go on then finish the season in the way we should be, by winning games and going out on a high, because I think Mo deserves that.”
Salah leaves Liverpool as the Reds’ second-highest goalscorer ever, hitting 255 goals to date for the Reds, 72 more than Fowler who sits seventh on the list.
For the former Reds striker, he has been able to enjoy the Egyptian’s career and wants to see a fitting end to his time at Anfield.
Fowler continued: “I’ve always loved watching him. I think he’s a fantastic player, but for his numbers and his performances and the games that he’s won for Liverpool, he deserves to go out as an absolute winner.
“And I think all the players within that squad know this as well.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 25, 2025: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah poses for photographs with his golden boots and the Premier League trophy after the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Crystal Palace FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“I think it gives the fans a little bit of a lift. It gives them a real reason to get behind the team again, because they all want Mo to go out on a high as well.
“So as much as I’m sad, in a silly sort of way I sort of half-envisaged it.
“It’s sad to see him go, but I’d love nothing more than to see Mo go out as an absolute winner.
“I mean, he’s a winner anyway in terms of what he’s done for this football club, but I’m talking in terms of winning stuff in his last season – that would be brilliant.”
Robbie Fowler was speaking at Anfield for Haier’s One Vision Conference. Haier are an official global partner of Liverpool FC.