Alexander Isak reaction spoke volumes as tantalising new Liverpool partnership unlocked
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Ian Doyle has covered Liverpool for more than 20 years, following them across Europe in multiple Champions League and Europa League finals and as far afield as Thailand, Singapore, the United States, Hong Kong and Qatar, and has reported on the Reds winning every major honour.
Once had to tell Jude Law he does not drive a Mini.
Alexander Isak in action on his Liverpool debut in the Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid(Image: Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
It may have only been 58 minutes but it was enough.
Alexander Isak is now up and running as a Liverpool player.
Having teased that the long wait to see the striker in a Reds shirt could come to an end in the Champions League opener against Atletico Madrid, head coach Arne Slot opted to throw Isak straight in from the start here.
And for the best part of half-an-hour, the Sweden international looked very much a player whose only action since May was 18 minutes for his country last week.
READ MORE:Diego Simeone sent off after clash with Liverpool supporters following late Virgil van Dijk drama
Indeed, Liverpool had already scored twice before Isak had even touched the ball.
The quips over whether the forward was actually required weren’t long in forthcoming.
But there’s a reason the Reds splashed out a British record £125million to take him from Newcastle United on deadline day earlier this month.
Encouragingly for Liverpool, that started to become clear with his immediate understanding with Florian Wirtz.
As he began to warm to his task, twice Isak fashioned efforts on goal having been found by crisp passes from the Germany international, whose overall performance suggested he was coming to grips with his new surrounds after an uncertain start after his own big-money move from Bayer Leverkusen this summer.
And Isak returned the favour shortly afterwards with an excellent return pass to put Wirtz clear inside the area, only for Jeremie Frimpong to completely miss his kick with the goal gaping and Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak out of position.
There was mild surprise when Isak emerged for the second half, not least given how he was on his haunches shortly before the half-time whistle.
But there was sufficient time for one flick to release Wirtz into space in midfield that had the home crowd purring before the Swede’s race was run, replaced by Hugo Ekitike to a huge ovation from the Anfield crowd.
They know a good ‘un when they see one.
It was precisely for this kind of night that Isak was so keen to make the move to Liverpool, having made only six previous Champions League appearances combined during his time with Borussia Dortmund and Newcastle.
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And as he watched Virgil van Dijk thunder in a dramatic injury-time winner and was then close witness to Diego Simeone’s trademark headloss and subsequent red card during a remarkable finale, Isak perhaps realised he had made the right choice.
Welcome to Liverpool, Alexander.