Alexander Isak returned to St James Park for the first time since leaving Newcastle United to join Liverpool last summer.
Former Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak has been told he has ‘had a bit of a free ride’ during his first 12 months as a Liverpool player.
The Sweden international became one of the Premier League’s most feared strikers during his time at St James Park - but his relationship with the Magpies was soured by his conduct and attitude prior to his £125m move to Liverpool last summer as he refused to train or feature in friendlies to try and force through a deal.
Alexander Isak did little to live up to his £125million price tag against his former club (Owen Humphreys/PA)placeholder image
Alexander Isak did little to live up to his £125million price tag against his former club (Owen Humphreys/PA)
Isak struggled to adapt to life at Anfield and scored just four goals in 22 appearances during his first season on Merseyside as a broken leg hampered his attempts to make an impact. The former Real Sociedad and Borussia Dortmund frontman man given a torrid time on his first return to Tyneside since making his controversial move as he struggled to make an impact in Sunday’s 2-2 draw between his former and current employers.
Isak was berated by Magpies fans as he got off the Reds team coach and made his way into St James Park and that continued throughout the game as he was booed every time he touched the ball. The striker offered little in attacking areas and he fluffed his lines when he was presented with a rare sight of goal when he fired high and wide over Lukas Hornicek’s goal during the second half.
Isak and team-mate Florian Wirtz have both been criticised for the lack of impact they have made after making high-profile moves to Liverpool last summer - and neither player was able to impress in their side’s Premier League opener at St James Park on Sunday afternoon.
‘Enough is enough’ - Gary Neville on Alexander Isak
Gary Neville had had his say on Alexander Isakplaceholder image
Gary Neville had had his say on Alexander Isak | Getty Images
Former Manchester United and England defender Gary Neville believes Isak can be ‘devastating’ - but warned the striker his ‘has to deliver’ this season after the Reds paid out a record fee to secure his services 12 months ago.
He told Sky Sports: “They [Isak and Wirtz] have got to improve and I am laying it on, right here and right now, because I’ve watched them for 12 months and I think I’ve got faith in them. I think Isak is an exceptional player, I’ve seen it. I never saw anyone give Gabriel, Saliba and Van Dijk and Konate as tough a time as Isak did when he was at Newcastle in a black and white shirt. I’ve seen him be devastating. Liverpool fans, team-mates, coaching staff, they need to see that because that’s £125m and then Wirtz, he needs to sort himself out. Enough is enough now. They have to deliver, let’s be clear. You can’t not deliver when you’re getting paid that level of money and you’ve got that fee on you and you have that quality and talent. You’ve got to deliver. You have got to deliver numbers, 35 goals between them, that’s it. Probably 15 assists, that’s it. Anything below that isn’t right so let’s start to hone in on them because they’ve had a bit of a free ride.”