When Liverpool splashed a staggering £130 million on Alexander Isak, it was supposed to be the next big statement the kind of transfer that screams ambition. But so far, it hasn’t quite clicked. Both the player and the club seem tangled in a messy start, and you can’t help but feel neither side has handled it perfectly.
Interestingly, Hugo Ekitike, who arrived from Eintracht Frankfurt for £69 million, has quietly stolen the spotlight. He warned that the competition will not be one-sided in an earlier post by Softfootball. While Isak was touted as the main man, Ekitike has been the one showing hunger, rhythm, and chemistry with the squad. Meanwhile, Isak’s transfer saga dragged into chaos; he literally went on strike at Newcastle United, refusing pre-season training and missing the opening three league games. That stunt left him miles off the pace when he finally moved.
He trained alone back at Real Sociedad, which, let’s be honest, is never the same as being in the thick of team drills. By the time he got to Anfield, he looked undercooked, as he had just played 18 minutes of football for Sweden before joining Liverpool for the season.
Just in the last game, Isak’s struggles is still evident in the heavy 5-1 Frankfurt victory in the UCL; he played 46 minutes, and he couldn’t get a goal or assist. Meanwhile, Ekitike who started ahead of him and found the scoresheet, drawing praise from Liverpool via their official X account for his impact against his former club.
They posted:
Even Manager Arne Slot despite trying to keep things cool, still admitted that private training can’t replace team intensity. Two months down the line, Isak still feels like a guest at Liverpool, with people already referring to him as a disconnected talent.
And maybe that’s on the club, too. The rush to sign a marquee name blinded them to the warning signs. Now, with Ekitike firing and Isak still trying to find his feet, the questions are piling up.
Did Liverpool get carried away chasing headlines? Or does Isak just need that little bit more time to prove he’s worth every penny? Either way, this story’s not over, but right now, it’s not the fairytale either side imagined, but thank God for Liverpool; they still have Ekitike just in case.
