Liverpool's Premier League rivals have been warned, by Danny Murphy in an exclusive interview with GOAL, that it is "just a matter of time" before Alexander Isak hits top form. The Sweden international striker became the most expensive player in British football when completing a £125 million ($168m) transfer to Anfield, but has registered just one goal for the Reds.
Playing catch-up: Record-breaking Isak expected to come good
That solitary effort was recorded in a Carabao Cup clash with Championship side Southampton in September. Isak is yet to open his account in Premier League action, with three top-flight appearances taken in so far. His next could come against Manchester United on Sunday.
Liverpool need somebody to provide attacking inspiration in that contest, with Arne Slot’s side heading into a meeting with the Red Devils on the back of three successive defeats across all competitions. The reigning champions have slipped to third in the Premier League table as a result.
The expectation is that Isak will soon start to fire on all cylinders, with a protracted summer transfer saga having prevented him from enjoying a proper pre-season. Liverpool are still working on getting their expensive No.9 fully up to speed.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportIsak goal target: Anything less than 20 under par?
Ex-Reds midfielder Murphy believes that process will be completed sooner rather than later. Speaking in association with online casino BetWright, he told GOAL when asked if anything less than a 20-goal season from Isak will be considered under par and whether he will be given more time to settle than £116m ($156m) playmaker Florian Wirtz: "Yeah, I think that's fair. I think it's a bit different with Isak. Two things really – he will get a bit more time from the fans and the media because they know he's not had a pre-season, so physically he's doing bits on the job.
"The other thing that really gives him a bit of grace is the fact that, because he has been in the Premier League a couple of years and shown all his quality already, people know he's got it, people know he can do it. There is no question around is he good enough – we know he is. The security of what he has already done stops people jumping on him or criticising as quickly. But he's under pressure as well, of course. Any player at a big club that comes in for a load of money is expected to deliver.
"I've got no worries about Isak. You can see in games that he has moments where you see what he is and the things he does. Then he has moments where you can tell he's a bit tired and needs a few more games – especially as a striker, that sharpness, that feeling that they get when they start scoring. You feel with Isak that it's just a matter of time."
Time to be judged: Slot makes Isak admission
Liverpool boss Slot has said that now is the time for Isak to be judged, with the 26-year-old having got more important minutes under his belt with Sweden during the October international break.
Slot has said: "Fitness-wise he is close to the level he should be and we can judge him in a fair way from now on. The first five or six weeks, of course we had the player we signed but he was not completely ready. He was getting fitter but he had to do this in a Premier League game. This is not normal for a player. Ideally you would use him earlier in friendly matches but there is no time in the middle of the season for a friendly so we had to build him up playing Premier League and Champions League games.
"You have to be on top of your game to make a difference at this level. You can play at this level if you are 80, 90 or 95% but to make a difference at the highest level of football you need to be 100%. That goes for every player and I think I can safely say he is 100% now."
Getty Images SportLiverpool fixtures: Testing run across three competitions
Slot went on to say of Isak being under pressure to deliver end product: "Of course if you are a No 9 at Liverpool you need to score goals but that is what he has always done in his life. The only thing he needs to be is fit and, if he is fit, our team is still creating the most chances from open play in the Premier League and we have the most shots on target in the Premier League from open play. But there is a second part of football that has become quite important and there we have to improve. You know what it is? Set pieces. There are two games in football, the open play and the set-piece part."
Liverpool face a testing run of games through to the next international break. After rekindling their rivalry with United, a Champions League trip to Eintracht Frankfurt awaits. They will then go to Brentford before taking on Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup fourth round. A domestic home date with Aston Villa is followed by a European one with Real Madrid, with a visit to Manchester City set to be made on November 9.
