‘Arne Slot will threaten Liverpool fringe players after what they did to Alexander Isak vs Southampton’
Alexander Isak scored his first goal for Liverpool on Tuesday as Liverpool beat Southampton 2-1 in the Carabao Cup, but there were frustrations for Arne Slot too.
Liverpool signed Isak from Newcastle United on transfer deadline day, with the £125million fee representing a Premier League record.
But the striker had missed the entirety of pre-season, and was not expected to hit the ground running at Anfield.
Isak made his Liverpool debut against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, and also featured for the Reds against Everton on Saturday.
Slot hoped to play Isak into form by starting him against Southampton, and the Dutchman was rewarded by the striker’s goal.
Alexander Isak starved of service vs Southampton
Isak’s goal was one every Liverpool fan would have expected from the Swede when the Reds confirmed the striker’s arrival.
Moments after Southampton had gone extremely close to taking the lead, the striker was found in the box after a superb piece of pressing by Federico Chiesa.
The Italian won the ball back and cut it back to Isak, who was waiting in the box.
With just one touch, the Liverpool number nine lifted the ball over the goalkeeper and into the net, wheeling away to celebrate for the first time in red.
| Alexander Isak | Vs Southampton |
| Minutes played | 45 |
| Goals | 1 |
| Accurate passes | 6 |
| Chances created | 1 |
| Shots | 2 |
| Touches in opposition box | 5 |
It was clinical from Isak, but Slot would have been concerned by the fact that his side could not create any chances for the striker without capitalising on their opposition’s mistakes.
Tim Sherwood agreed, and told Sky Sports News: “He’s had a few decent runs in behind, but he’s been starved of any sort of service, having to come deep, try to get the ball himself.
“Arne Slot, he’s not had too many difficult half-times, but he’s got a difficult one here. He’ll be going in there and saying, ‘do you wanna play in my first team in the Premier League and in the Champions League? If you do, you have to perform a lot better than you’ve done out there because that ain’t good enough.'”
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Hugo Ekitike will sense opportunity to claim position
Much of the discussion surrounding Isak has also included Hugo Ekitike, given the Frenchman’s terrific form.
The 23-year-old scored again for Liverpool on Tuesday, scoring the winner for the Reds before bizarrely deciding to take his shirt off, and receiving a second yellow card.
Isak had been expected to take over from Ekitike once he was up to speed, but given Isak’s failure to adapt to his new teammates, the striker may see an opportunity to move above in the pecking order following his suspension.
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