Liverpool have fallen off a proverbial cliff this season, however Arne Slot‘s delicate tactical tweaks over the previous a number of weeks have steadied the ship, with Liverpool unbeaten in 4 within the Premier League and with a win at San Siro over Inter Milan secured within the Champions League.
Nevertheless, the Premier League champions nonetheless want to lift their ranges if they’re to place to mattress fears of lacking out on a top-four (or 5) end, in addition to competing out on the continent and within the FA Cup.
And with Mohamed Salah now off with Egypt on the African Cup of Nations, it is time for Alexander Isak to step up and assist steer his new facet again into the ascendancy.
Isak, 26, joined Liverpool from Newcastle United in a British-record £125m transfer on the finish of the summer time switch window, however he has struggled to click on into gear.
Why Alexander Isak is struggling at Liverpool
When Isak accomplished his switch to Liverpool, his status preceded him. Now below Slot’s wing was a striker whose exploits led Newcastle United to Champions League qualification twice in three Premier League seasons, and it was his aim towards Liverpool at Wembley that sealed the Carabao Cup title final yr.
He scored 27 objectives in all competitions final yr, and his motion and intelligence within the closing third marry up with devastating capturing abilities to vogue a talisman match for a starring position at any of Europe’s best outfits.
However this hasn’t been the case for the Anfield facet. The information makes for considerably painful viewing, with Isak clearly punching nicely beneath his weight class of final season.
|
Alexander Isak – Previous Two Prem Campaigns |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stats (per 90) |
24/25 |
25/26 |
|
Objectives scored |
0.75 |
0.18 |
|
Assists |
0.20 |
0.18 |
|
Touches |
33.47 |
22.59 |
|
Photographs taken |
3.10 |
2.57 |
|
Cross completion (%) |
75.3 |
65.2 |
|
Progressive passes |
2.87 |
1.47 |
|
Progressive carries |
2.71 |
0.92 |
|
Shot-creating actions |
3.00 |
0.92 |
|
Profitable take-ons |
1.37 |
0.18 |
|
Ball recoveries |
1.80 |
1.84 |
|
Tackles |
0.39 |
1.10 |
|
Information by way of FBref |
||
The Sweden worldwide’s very identify struck concern into defenders throughout England final yr, with pundit Jamie Carragher even anointing him “the very best striker within the Premier League proper now” throughout his damaging purple patch final winter.
However he is been dismal since transferring to Liverpool, one aim within the Premier League and none within the Champions League. Circumstances matter, however Isak’s type is a giant concern, particularly with Hugo Ekitike firing on all cylinders are becoming a member of the membership from Eintracht Frankfurt in July.
As Slot stated: “We signed him for six years, not six months.” Even so, Isak wants to enhance, particularly when the Reds have an up-and-coming teen who has the potential to go proper to the highest as a free-scoring quantity 9.
The Liverpool teen who might steal Isak’s shirt
When Isak joined Liverpool and placed on that quantity 9 shirt, it was universally accepted that he would swiftly assert himself as a powerhouse within the Premier League and out in Europe too.
However Isak has flattered to deceive, and Keyrol Figueroa could fancy his possibilities of ruffling just a few feathers down the road, maybe convincing the powers that be that they needn’t signal one other striker any time quickly, as an alternative investing their religion within the academy.
Figueroa, 19, has been hailed as a “deadly, ruthless quantity 9” by Liverpool U21 supervisor Rob Web page, who has been in awe of the USMNT youth worldwide’s damaging begin to life within the Reds’ facet’s underbelly.
This season, the highly effective younger ahead, son of former Premier League star Maynor Figueroa, has scored seven objectives from solely 9 matches within the Premier League 2, simply 5 of which got here from the beginning whistle.
He made the bench throughout Liverpool’s Carabao Cup defeat to Crystal Palace at Anfield, and it’s only a matter of time earlier than he makes his bow for Slot’s seniors.
Energy and tempo are key sides of Figueroa’s recreation. Recognised from the off for possessing one thing a bit totally different, the American prospect could nicely rival Isak down the road, if he retains and develops these central attributes and guides them towards one thing that may stand up to the cruel local weather of the Premier League.
Ought to Isak be frightened? Not but. As Slot careworn, Liverpool are able to play the lengthy recreation in relation to their report buy.
However Isak should ship at some stage, and maybe by then, Figueroa may have completed constructing the blocks and shall be able to take the skilled stage.
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