Andoni Iraola sends strong Alexander Isak message ahead of Premier League opener | OneFootball

Alexander Isak Faces Defining Liverpool Test as Iraola Raises Stakes Before Newcastle Return

Alexander Isak cost Liverpool £125m. That number follows him everywhere, and it should. Fees of that size come with scrutiny, expectation and, sooner or later, output. After a first season wrecked by fitness issues and a serious injury, the Liverpool striker heads back to Newcastle United on Sunday with a point to prove and a manager making it very clear what comes next.

Andoni Iraola has not dressed it up. He sees this as a major campaign for Isak, and there is logic to that. Liverpool need far more than flashes. They need availability, goals and consistency from a forward signed to lead the line.

Massive season for Liverpool striker

Iraola put it plainly: “I think it is a massive season for Alexander. He knows at the end it is (about) two things: the first is availability, and without availability we cannot have the second thing, which is the performance level.

“But I think this has to be the first aim for us, to keep him in a good place in terms of being available. I’m sure if we manage to do this he will perform well because he has been very good during the pre-season.

“If we can keep him at a good level he will score his goals and he will be a threat. I have no doubts about his level.”

Photo: IMAGO

That is the crux of it. Nobody serious doubts Isak’s talent. The problem last season was that Liverpool barely had access to it. His move from Newcastle dragged through the summer, his preparation was disrupted, and the campaign never settled. A broken leg in December then removed him for four months. By the end, Liverpool had finished fifth and Isak had three Premier League goals. For a £125m striker, that is nowhere near enough.

Newcastle return brings noise and pressure

There is no soft landing here. St James’ Park will not welcome him back warmly after the manner of his departure. That is part of the job now. Big transfers create resentment at the selling club and pressure at the buying club. Isak has to deal with both.

The good news for Liverpool is that he has featured in every pre-season match since returning this month. That matters because Iraola’s message has been consistent, fitness first, then performance.

The head coach also explained why he believes Isak gives Liverpool something difficult to find in one player. “I think he’s quite a unique No.9 in terms of he can come to receive and be technically very clean, and he can also be very good attacking the space.

“Sometimes you get one thing or the other, like a player who comes to link up play and sets the others or a player who is just quick and attacks the spaces, but he can do both.”

Iraola wants clean slate at Anfield

There is another point here. Iraola is not interested in carrying last season around like luggage. He has reviewed it, taken what he needs, and moved on. That is sensible.

Asked whether he had discussed the previous campaign’s problems with Isak, he said: “No. I have a lot of conversations with staff and with players but I wasn’t here last season.

“You have to be open-minded when you come to a new place and don’t be too affected by the things they tell you about what happened before. You have to try to understand the picture but I think everyone is willing to improve.

“I haven’t spent too much time thinking: ‘Okay, this didn’t work last season’. I have seen the games and I have my ideas but I prefer to start with a clean slate rather than try to solve the things that didn’t work last season.”

Fair enough. Liverpool do not need therapy, they need production. If Isak stays fit, there is every chance he supplies it. If he does not, the fee will keep talking. Sunday at Newcastle will not define his season, but it will tell you quickly whether he is ready to start owning it.