Liverpool will be guests at St James' Park in a match where Alexander Isak becomes the focus. The Swedish striker returned to Newcastle for the first time since joining Liverpool for £125 million, after a first season that was not as expected.
Isak only played 22 matches last season due to injury and scored 4 goals in all competitions, including 3 goals in the Premier League. This number is much lower than the achievements of 21 and 23 goals he achieved in his last two seasons for Newcastle.
Liverpool really needs Isak to regain his best condition, especially when Hugo Ekitike is injured. The port city team has invested heavily in the Swedish striker with the expectation that he can become a spearhead strong enough to make a difference.
Coach Andoni Iraola does not want to judge Isak based only on his performance last season. For him, the immediate priority is to help this striker maintain a stable physical condition. When he can play regularly, Isak will have the opportunity to regain the scoring instinct that once helped him become one of the top strikers in the Premier League.
I think this is an extremely important season for Alexander Isak" - Iraola said. According to the Spanish coach, Isak must first maintain good physical condition and ability to play regularly, because form can only appear when the player is fit enough.
Isak's strength is also consistent with the operation that Iraola wants to build. He has the ability to keep the ball, coordinate with teammates and exploit the space behind the defense. Not many strikers possess these qualities at the same time.
Isak is also showing positive signs in the preparation phase. He scored against Monaco and went through a more favorable preparation process than last summer. This is the basis for the "Reds" to believe that the 26-year-old striker can create a different image in the new season.
Iraola once helped Dominic Solanke develop strongly at Bournemouth. The English striker scored 19 goals in the Premier League in the 2023-2024 season, while Eli Junior Kroupi also had 13 goals last season. Therefore, Iraola has reason to believe that Isak will maximize his ability under his system.
However, fitness is still something Liverpool must pay attention to. Isak has had many injury problems and maintaining a stable pace of play will greatly determine his contribution.
The return to St James' Park will therefore bring many emotions. Newcastle has lost a striker who has scored more than 20 goals each season, while Liverpool are still waiting for a £125 million contract to prove that they were right to place their trust in him.
If Isak scores in his home ground, it will not only be a special moment for him personally. More importantly, that goal may be an affirmation that Liverpool was right to recruit Isak.
