I expect Alexander Isak will have same issue as Erling Haaland and Liverpool must be patient

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Alexander Isak of Liverpool during a training session at AXA Training Centre on September 10 2025(Image: Nikki Dyer - LFC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Take a quick glance through Liverpool's list of post-war record transfers, and it doesn't take long to spot a pattern emerging.

And more than half of Liverpool's 27 record captures were recruited as a forward.

Alexander Isak became the latest when he ensured £116million midfielder Florian Wirtz had the shortest reign of any record signing when his £125m move from Newcastle United finally became reality on transfer deadline day last week.



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Thirty years ago, Stan Collymore was the player commanding the attention when Liverpool smashed the highest British tally by splashing out £8.5m on taking the forward from Nottingham Forest.

Collymore, then, is ideally placed to point out the perils and pitfalls that could now await Isak as he prepares for a potential Reds debut in the Premier League visit to Burnley on Sunday.

"The fee didn't bother me, but it bothered me when other people asked about it," he says, speaking to the ECHO via NewBettingOffers.co.uk.

When I signed it was the second-biggest fee, adjusted for inflation, in Premier League history - something like £216m in today's money.

"It was that big, it was an outlier and people had to keep talking about it, whereas today people are used to that kind of size of transfer."

Collymore believes Isak will have to adjust his game to play under Arne Slot and suggested Liverpool supporters shouldn't expect to see the same player who terrorised defences while with Newcastle - at least for a few months yet.

"In terms of what Isak has got to do, I think he just has to look at the way Liverpool play and work out the differences with Newcastle," says Collymore.

"That might be less counter-attacking as Liverpool have the ball a lot and teams will defend deep.

"He's going to have to get used to, like Erling Haaland at Manchester City, sometimes just getting in the box and being a tap-in merchant.

Every team, whether it's Real Madrid or Bournemouth, will basically try to deny Liverpool space.

"If he gets to grips with that then he'll enjoy his time at Liverpool.

As a striker his first job will be to score goals and he will have a really good support network around him.

"Just like Erling Haaland when he went to City and thought 'I'm sitting here six yards out just tapping balls in', Isak may have to do that for a little while before we see a more expansive player."

Isak made his first appearance of any sort since May when coming off the bench for the final quarter of Sweden's shock 2-0 World Cup qualifying loss in Kosovo on Monday evening.

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And Collymore adds: "Liverpool have started the season so well, you might see Isak come off the bench a few times and it might be November and December before we start seeing the best of him.

"Hugo Ekitike has warranted a starting role and there are players like Cody Gakpo who will want to be involved.

"There's not really a need for Isak at Liverpool in the way there may have been pressure to put him in if they'd not won a couple of their opening games."