The high-stakes gamble of Liverpool’s £125 million world-record signing of Alexander Isak from Newcastle in September has turned into a frustrating Liverpool Isak struggles with the saga just three months in, with the Swedish striker managing only one goal and one assist in seven Premier League outings amid whispers of buyer’s remorse at Anfield.
Fans who dreamed of a prolific partnership with Mohamed Salah are now dissecting every touch, as Isak’s integration under Arne Slot hits unexpected roadblocks in a season where the Reds sit third, seven points off leaders Manchester City.
The transfer, sealed on deadline day after a summer-long standoff that saw Isak down tools at St James’ Park, shattered the British fee barrier previously held by Chelsea’s £115 million splash on Moises Caicedo. Liverpool forked out a flat £125 million on a six-year contract, with add-ons potentially pushing it to £130 million, including solidarity payments, eclipsing even their earlier £116 million package for Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz.
Newcastle, fresh off signing Nick Woltemade for £70 million, cashed in on the 25-year-old who had netted 27 goals across all competitions last term, but the move came laced with acrimony after Isak publicly accused the club of broken promises.
Yet reality at Anfield has been a stark contrast to the hype. In a telling 2-1 win over West Ham earlier this month, Isak mustered just 13 touches in 68 minutes before being hooked, a stat that left pundits scratching heads given his 3.2 touches per minute average during his Newcastle pomp. Against Sunderland in the EFL Cup, the numbers barely improved: 14 touches across 86 minutes in a comfortable 3-0 victory, where he contributed minimally to the attack.
Slot, the Dutch tactician who inherited the title from Jurgen Klopp, has fielded questions weekly, pointing to tactical evolutions in the league where opponents now deploy deeper low blocks to frustrate Liverpool’s possession game.
“Teams are sitting deeper, denying space,” Slot explained after the West Ham draw. “Even Erling Haaland doesn’t get 50 touches a game; it’s about quality over quantity. Isak’s pre-season absence due to the saga hurt his rhythm, but he’s adapting.”
Isak himself has been candid about the Liverpool Isak struggles, admitting in a sit-down with Sky Sports that the personal toll feels heavier than expected. “I don’t know really why it’s been so difficult on an individual level,” the Solna native confessed, his usual poise cracking slightly.
“This is football; sometimes you’re flying, sometimes not. It’s just about keeping on working and keeping on believing.” His lone Premier League strike came in a routine 4-0 dismantling of newly promoted Ipswich in late October, a poacher’s finish from a Salah cross that briefly silenced doubters.
The assist followed against Tottenham, threading a low ball for Cody Gakpo’s tap-in, but since then, it’s been a drought amid Liverpool’s stuttering form: draws against Arsenal and Manchester United, plus a shock 1-0 loss to Brighton that exposed midfield frailties.
Behind the scenes, the disruptions run deeper. Isak’s late arrival meant he missed the bulk of pre-season, joining squad drills only days before the opener against Bournemouth. The shift from Eddie Howe’s counter-attacking setup to Slot’s high-pressing, fluid 4-3-3 has demanded a positional tweak, with Isak often dropping deeper to link play rather than lurking as a pure No. 9.
Data from Opta shows his progressive passes per 90 down 15 per cent from Newcastle levels, while his shots on target ratio hovers at a dismal 0.8. Teammates rally around him, with Salah publicly defending the Swede post-West Ham: “Alex is a world-class finisher; the ball will start finding him more as we gel.” Virgil van Dijk, the captain, echoed that in training clips shared on the club’s X account, praising Isak’s work rate off the ball.
As December’s festive fixtures loom, Slot is banking on back-to-back starts against Leeds United in the FA Cup third round and a league clash next week to reignite the fire. “We’re giving him minutes to build chemistry,” the manager stated ahead of Saturday’s trip to Elland Road, where Marcelo Bielsa’s high-line side could offer the spaces Isak craves.
Pundit Gary Neville, on his podcast, urged patience: “£125 million buys talent, not instant miracles. Remember Darwin Nunez’s bedding-in period; Isak’s trajectory screams long-term gem.” Yet pressure mounts, with Liverpool’s title defence faltering and Champions League progression hinging on a win over Real Madrid midweek.
The Kop’s die-hards chant his name unwaveringly, but Reddit threads dissect every heatmap, questioning if the fee inflated expectations too soon. Merchandise sales for Isak’s No. 14 jersey lag behind Salah and Van Dijk, per club shop data, while memes flood TikTok showing his touches overlaid on empty Anfield stands.
For Isak, who idolised Zlatan Ibrahimovic growing up in Sweden, the weight of history presses: becoming the most expensive Swede ever transferred adds to the scrutiny.
Slot’s broader squad overhaul, including £400 million total summer outlay offset by sales of Luis Diaz and Nunez, underscores the ambition. But if the Liverpool Isak struggles persist, whispers of a winter tweak could surface, though FFP rules bite hard.
For now, the striker laces up for Leeds, eyes fixed on that elusive second goal. In the unforgiving Premier League cauldron, belief might just be the spark that turns a slow burn into a blaze, proving £125 million was money well splashed after all.