Sweden and Liverpool striker Alexander Isak has not had a bright start to the 2025/26 season, and has now come out to speak on those struggles.
After forcing his way to Liverpool following a protracted transfer standoff with Newcastle United, where he made his name in English football, Isak has been unable to bring the instant impact that convinced Liverpool to pay in excess of £120 million for his services.
He has also battled injury issues since making the switch, which has affected his performance for both the Premier League defending champions and the Sweden national team. He spoke after his latest outing with the Sweden national team, where he featured in a cameo and was unable to help them earn a result.
“It felt okay,” the Liverpool striker told Swedish newspaper Sportbladet on his fitness. “I feel like the reaction was good after the match in my body.
“Hopefully I can play properly in the next match (on Tuesday). It’s always frustrating when you’re injured. Regardless of whether it’s one match or more. It’s always worse for the player himself.”
“‘It hasn’t been optimal,” Isak added. “But when I’m on the field, I don’t give myself any excuses. I always want to play my game and perform.
“But yes, it’s hard to be away and not be able to help and contribute. Now I’m back and I’m positive. There’s not much that’s easy in football. But with experience you learn to deal with things.
“That’s how it is with injuries and all that. You learn to deal with it and get back on track the right way.”
Meanwhile, Mohamed Salah has been asked to add defensive contributions to his game if he is going to help Liverpool return to the pinnacle this season.
Danny Murphy was speaking on The Kick-Off when he said: “Giving Salah the license to not defend against a left-back who loves going forward and isn’t even a left-back in O’Reilly, who has been brilliant recently… I couldn’t believe what I was watching, to be honest.
“I don’t know how he [Slot] can keep watching the same thing and not change it, and it’s not like Salah can’t do the running, he hasn’t asked him to see if he can.
“He doesn’t have to do it every single time, but he has spent so long not doing it.
“Last season, Salah came out and said he was enjoying it more because he doesn’t have to defend as much as he did with Klopp.
“But it’s just time and time again, and I don’t think he needs to be dropped because he’s such a threat, but I think you’ve got to tell him to defend.”
