Alexander Isak will step onto St James' Park this Sunday, but the occasion is unlikely to be a warm welcome. The Newcastle faithful are expected to voice their disappointment, a reaction that lies beyond the striker's control. Isak's immediate priority, however, is to concentrate on winning over the Liverpool supporters who have watched his first season with mixed feelings.
The fixture marks the one‑year anniversary of the Swedish forward's dramatic declaration that his bond with Newcastle "cannot continue" after what he described as broken promises and a loss of trust. A year later, his tenure at Liverpool remains unfulfilled, with the promise of his £130 million transfer still far from being realised.
Last season Isak missed the direct clash between the two clubs, yet his absence was felt. Some observers argue that the player who once dazzled at St James' Park has yet to re‑emerge. Scoring just three Premier League goals for Liverpool last term, he offered only a faint glimpse of the potency that justified his hefty price tag.
A disrupted pre‑season left him arriving at Anfield out of shape, hindering his ability to hit the ground running. A fractured fibula suffered in December further robbed him of the rhythm that strikers need to thrive. Nevertheless, the club's willingness to invest heavily in him was not without reason. The hostility awaiting Isak in the Gallowgate End reflects a sense of betrayal among Newcastle supporters, but it also underscores his previous achievements.
In his final two campaigns with the Magpies, only Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah out‑scored him in the Premier League. He was the decisive scorer in the match that ended Liverpool's 56‑year wait for a major trophy – a moment that cemented his status as a fan favourite despite his slender build and unconventional physical profile. Rehashing the events of last summer serves little purpose; what matters is that Isak's inaugural season in a Liverpool shirt was largely squandered.
The Reds' fans have been deprived of the fluid, effortless finishes that once made him look as if he were gliding across the pitch with time on his side. Now, at 27 years old, Isak must reverse that narrative. The upcoming encounter carries more weight for his future than for his past.
One year after a record‑breaking transfer, can he still become the player Liverpool believed they were acquiring? When new manager Andoni Iraola first addressed the squad in pre‑season, he said, "He performed well at the World Cup.
He will have three or four weeks of quality training, and I hope we can put him in a good position because he will be massive for us this season." Unlike many players who risk fatigue after a major tournament, Iraola expects Isak's World Cup experience to be an asset rather than a liability. There have been encouraging signs. In a friendly against Monaco, Isak found the net, and his movement against Como required a closer look to appreciate.
His most striking moment came early in that game: a composed, angled strike that curled into the far post with surgical precision, showcasing his preference for accuracy over sheer power and leaving the goalkeeper bewildered. Technical analysts noted that Isak also displayed a willingness to press high up the field. In the 14th minute of the Como match, he nudged the ball back into play, forcing Florian Wirtz into a hurried decision.
This brand of pressing aligns with Iraola's tactical demands, and the manager later praised the squad for attempting new, ball‑away tasks. After the Monaco fixture, Isak himself remarked, "We are all working hard to make things work," echoing the collective effort the coach seeks.
Yet the physical component will likely dictate his success more than any tactical nuance. Last season, Isak exceeded his expected‑goals metric for a fourth consecutive Premier League campaign, confirming his innate finishing ability. Former Newcastle coach Arne Slot once lamented his team's failure to capitalise on chances. For Isak, the problem was not a lack of opportunities but an inability to be on the receiving end of them.
Consequently, his strike‑rate dropped to its lowest point since arriving in England. The underlying cause appears to be physical.
His top speed dipped noticeably last term, and reclaiming that burst will be crucial. In the early minutes of the Como game, applause erupted when he chased a ball down the right flank, only to be denied by a defender—a reminder that his pace can still be a weapon when fully restored.
The partnership with German playmaker Florian Wirtz also showed promise. After both scored against Monaco, they attempted to build a link-up, though it never fully clicked during the weekend fixture.
Their most effective exchange came early in the second half when Wirtz supplied a pass that Isak turned wide, illustrating the potential chemistry that could flourish with consistent minutes. Other near‑misses peppered the match: a hesitation on the edge of the box after 70 seconds, a loose touch following Cody Gakpo's darting run, and a failure to anticipate a dummy from Dominik Szoboszlai. These moments hint at lingering rust rather than outright failure.
In sum, the evidence suggests that Isak is not yet the unstoppable goal‑machine Liverpool envisioned. He has shown flashes of his former self, but the consistency, fitness, and mental sharpness required to lead a Liverpool attack are still in question. When he steps onto the turf at St James' Park on Sunday, the eyes of both sets of supporters will be fixed on him, hoping to see the player who can finally bridge the gap between expectation and performance.