Alexander Isak’s Liverpool debut provides box-office glamour despite the rust | Barney Ronay
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Alexander Isak’s Liverpool debut in the Champions League delivered a spectacle of "box-office glamour" despite visible signs of rust from lack of match fitness. The £125 million signing, the most expensive in British football history, made his first appearance on 17 September 2025 after missing Liverpool’s opening Premier League fixtures due to fitness issues.
Although clearly still shaking off the effects of limited game time, Isak showed glimpses of the high-caliber skillset Liverpool invested in. He displayed confident ball control, sharp movement, and the technical brilliance expected of a player with his reputation, drawing significant attention throughout the game. Fans and pundits noted moments of dazzling play interspersed with some hesitancy and missed chances, common for a striker adapting to a new team’s rhythm and the intensity of the Champions League.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot acknowledged Isak's talent and potential impact while underlining the challenges the player faces to reach full fitness and synchronization with the squad. The manager emphasized patience and the gradual integration of Isak into the starting lineup as key to unlocking his best performances.
Despite the uneven display, the debut was welcomed enthusiastically by supporters eager to see Liverpool’s new attacking focal point in action, fully aware that the player's form will improve with more minutes and familiarity. The match demonstrated that while Isak may not yet be perfectly match-fit, his style brings much-anticipated excitement and flair to Liverpool’s forward line.
The debut highlighted both the promise of Isak’s record-breaking transfer and the realistic adjustment period needed for such a high-profile signing to make an immediate impact at the elite level of European football.
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