Alexander Isak’s struggles ignite punditry debate
Alexander Isak’s struggles in a Liverpool shirt have become the subject of a fierce punditry row after the Swedish striker delivered another underwhelming display in Sunday’s 2-2 draw at St James’ Park, reports BritPanorama.
The £125 million forward was met with a chorus of boos from the Newcastle fans on his first return to Tyneside since his controversial departure last summer. His performance did little to silence the jeers, further intensifying scrutiny.
Isak’s best chance came in the second half, when he fired over from the edge of the box. Meanwhile, teammates Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai managed to find the net for the visitors, with Szoboszlai converting a late penalty to secure a point. The lack of scoring from Isak in particular has reignited discussions about whether it’s fair to evaluate a striker who missed 141 days due to injury during his debut season at Anfield.
This debate has seen prominent figures like Michael Owen and Gary Neville weigh in. Speaking on talkSPORT, Owen expressed empathy based on his own experiences with injuries, stating, “I had plenty of injuries in my career. So I know how hard it is to get back and you do need a bit of time.” He acknowledged that the team, facing injuries to key players like Mohamed Salah and Hugo Ekitike, needs Isak firing on all cylinders, adding that his recent form has been worrying.
Neville echoed these sentiments, pointing to both Isak and fellow big-money signing Florian Wirtz as significant disappointments in the match. He lamented their underwhelming performances, suggesting they were underperforming in light of their financial investments. “The big thing for Liverpool is they’ve got this quarter-of-a-billion-pound front two, and bloody hell, we’ve been kind to them,” Neville remarked during his podcast, pointing out the need for them to deliver results.
In response to the criticism, Simon Jordan, a co-host on talkSPORT, defended Isak, arguing that judging him after one game following injury is unreasonable. “He’s had one game this season. Ok, he’s been injured the majority of last season,” Jordan contended, highlighting a lack of a meaningful reference point to assess Isak’s contributions thus far. He also raised doubts about whether Liverpool’s style of play suits Isak, suggesting that the team needs to adapt if they wish to maximize his potential.
The stark contrast between Isak’s performance at Liverpool and his history at Newcastle is notable. During three seasons with the Magpies, he scored 54 goals in 86 Premier League appearances, added to a key goal in their Carabao Cup final victory over Liverpool in 2025. In comparison, Isak has managed only four goals in 23 matches for Liverpool since his transfer last summer, which was complicated by a series of missteps on all sides. Liverpool’s next chance to reinvigorate their record signing will come on 29 August against Nottingham Forest at Anfield.
As the scrutiny intensifies, it will be fascinating to see whether Isak can rise to the occasion—a pivotal test not only of his abilities but also of Liverpool’s faith in their star signing.
