Alexander Isak received a brutal warning ahead of Liverpool's season opener against Newcastle while some believe that the star striker will get a surprising welcome to start the season
Alexander Isak of Liverpool in preseason
Alexander Isak received a brutal warning ahead of the start of the season(Image: Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images)
Alexander Isak received a brutal warning ahead of Liverpool's Premier League opener against Newcastle on Sunday as the season's race to crown a new champion and Golden Boot winner officially kicked off on Friday.
Liverpool will begin their season in earnest against Newcastle this weekend, with the Reds seeing what they have with new manager Andoni Iraola. Expectations are high for Iraola, taking over for Arne Slot after a season filled with hopes but instead were saddled with disappointment.
Before the two sides clash, however, predictions are flowing regarding what will happen in the match, as Isak is favored to win a major award this year.
"Alexander Isak will get quite a reception - and not in a good way - from the home crowd but I do think he will shine for Liverpool this year, starting on Sunday," the piece on BBC Sport read.
Despite opposing views about the striker before the match, some believe the Swedish star could match Erling Haaland and potentially surpass him in the Golden Boot race. On Betway, the 26-year-old is taking nine percent of all bets in the market, behind only Haaland (29 percent) and Brentford's Igor Thiago (12 percent).
Oddsmakers have them as the top-three favorites, with the Manchester City star the front-runner (-152) with Isak and Thiago at +900 and +1200, respectively.
Alexander Isak of Liverpool celebrates scoring
Isak scored three Premier League goals last season(Image: Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Isak is only one of two players to have outscored Haaland in a single season by one goal during 2024-25. Former Liverpool star and newly minted Trabzonspor talisman Mohamed Salah ran away with the trophy and scored 29 goals while Isak netted 23 ahead of the Norwegian star's 22.
And while some are high on the star, Iraola revealed that he has spoken to Cody Gakpo about potentially filling in for Isak at certain points this season. Hugo Ekitike is still recovering from a ruptured Achilles injury, with Will Wright and Federico Chiesa having filled in during the preseason.
"I think Cody can play as a number nine," Iraola said during his pre-Newcastle press conference. "In pre-season, we haven’t tried it because we don’t have enough wingers, probably.
"He understands what we need from him in his preferred position as a left winger, but I have been talking to him about his minutes as a nine.
"Not only in the past season, but he has also done it before, and in certain situations, I think he could help us there in the nine position, yes."
He added, "Some situations are clear — on the wing, we need specific players for that.
"In other positions, we have to be open-minded to situations that can improve our team. It is about improving the squad, and we have good players here."
It remains to be seen how the club will perform this season, but it is clear that Iraola is already planning for any possibilities in his first year at the helm of the Reds.