That team is spending a fortune on a guy who’s a forward, so the requirement isn’t simply for him to score goals; it’s for him to reach jaw-dropping magic in an instant. That’s why Alexander Isak’s early days at Anfield felt a little heavy. Andoni Iraola’s system was never going to be a ‘one click in the system’ type of thing, and with two draws on the opening weekend, the rumors had begun to turn into a buzz. The Premier League doesn’t permit players to take their time in getting their heads around the high press, the lack of space, and the new tactical setup.
Nine Minutes of Pure Swedish Precision
But after a Friday night visit to Portman Road to take on Ipswich Town, all that pent-up pressure spilled over in no time at all. Cody Gakpo was able to put the pressure on Isak after just six minutes as he put the gears moving on a sharp pass. The Swedish attacker was not hesitant, hitting a thunderous shot straight past goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen to score his first goal. The pair hit them again three minutes later, before the home side had time to get their act together. Gakpo then played another nifty pass through, and Isak skilfully manipulated the ball away from the keeper to extend the scoring lead two times in the opening nine minutes.
The Swede Finds His Groove
A complete clinical finish and nifty move lesson, and a reminder to all of why Liverpool went to the trouble of signing him. Isak even believed he had scored a first-half hat trick after tapping home a cross from Florian Wirtz but lost a good offside flag call. It was the aggressiveness of his running, the quality of his pressing, and his link-up play that proved he was now at ease in red as a striker. The 2-0 win was the first of his first two wins as Liverpool manager, and he boosted the club’s confidence as they head into the European contest.
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