Alexander Isak endured a difficult first season at Liverpool under Arne Slot, but has a fresh start with Andoni Iraola now head coach
Former Liverpool head coach Arne Slot (left) with record signing Alexander Isak
Former Liverpool head coach Arne Slot (left) with record signing Alexander Isak(Image: Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
View Image
Alexander Isak has not looked like the same player who was terrorising defences at Newcastle United since recovering from serious injury at Liverpool, but he was not helped by the tinkering of Arne Slot.
That's according to former Premier League star Dwight Yorke, who has had his say on the Reds' record-breaking summer transfer.
The then Premier League champions broke new ground 11 months ago when they controversially secured a £125m deal to sign Isak from the reluctant Magpies after the player effectively went on strike.
Isak did not hit the ground running, however, arriving on Merseyside unfit before suffering a broken leg against Tottenham Hotspur in December, ruling him out for over three months. On his return, the Swede struggled to get back up to speed, leaving question marks over Liverpool's wisdom in breaking the bank for the 26-year-old forward.
And former Manchester United striker Yorke, who won three Premier League titles with the Red Devils, is unsure whether Isak will be able to recover the scintillating form that earned him his big-money move in the first place.
Speaking to Football betting specialists BOYLE Sports, Yorke said: "Alexander Isak has been in a difficult situation. I was a huge fan of his when he was at Newcastle United but I never knew the injuries that he has had so I don’t know what kind of mentality he has needed to come back from that to be the same player.
"It’s always the same. After major injuries you’ve never quite the same and he hasn’t looked anywhere near to the player I loved at Newcastle.
"That might be a little bit of a concern for Liverpool but I think he's working extremely hard. He's really trying to get back to that level. I'm just not sure if that's going to happen for him.
"It’ll be interesting to see how he gets on this season under the new manager, Andoni Iraola, and how he sees it and what he wants to do with the team."
Yorke was also highly critical of former Liverpool head coach Slot's tendency to rotate Isak with fellow summer signing Hugo Ekitike, creating uncertainty for the Swede as he was trying to establish himself as Liverpool's main man.
"When Ekitike was keeping Isak out of the team, you’re not feeling like you’re worth £120m and that’s when the doubts start to kick in," added Yorke. "And you’ve got the previous manager messing you around and not playing you, chopping and changing every few seconds. Liverpool were never going to get the best out of a player like Isak in that environment, I don’t think.
*FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE!All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook page*
"If you’re a striker, you want to be told you’re the number one, and if you’re not getting that message from the manager, then you’ve got a long season ahead of you. It’s not the situation you want to be in.
"Obviously, you've got to earn the right to play and say I’m the number one, but there’s nothing better than hearing that from the manager to say you are my guy."
Isak will now be hoping to hear exactly that from Iraola, after the Spaniard succeeded Slot in becoming Liverpool's next head coach. Despite a disappointing season just gone under the Dutchman, Yorke sees no reason why the Reds should no be challenging for the title once more when the new campaign gets underway.
He said: "Liverpool are a threat. If you spend £500m on new players you’re a threat. That’s it. Otherwise, what’s the point? You can’t spend £500m to go backwards. That makes no sense. Of course they are going to compete this year. Liverpool are coming into this season wanting to win the Premier League title. This squad has got the taste for winning titles in the Premier League and the Champions League. They want to win it all again.
"When you’re signing players for £116m and £120m, these are the numbers that mean you have to win the league. You can’t be off the pace, especially this year, because Manchester City are in a moment of change so the title race is wide open.
"Any team that has something about them can win the Premier League this season, no problem. I’m not buying into this idea that Liverpool are going to be way off. No chance. Not with the investment that’s gone into that squad over the last few years."
Get the best Liverpool FC news and analysis straight to your Inbox courtesy of the Echo!
It's as simple as 1-2-3.