Stan Collymore says Alexander Isak must get used to Erling Haaland treatment at Liverpool
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(Credit: Imago)
Michael Mongie
Thu 18 September 2025 12:30, UK
Liverpool fans got a first glimpse at Alexander Isak on Wednesday (17 September), and the Swedish international will be hoping to make an instant impression.
Alexander Isak made his Liverpool debut against Atletico Madrid, and for his first high-level match in months, the Swede did very well.
While Isak only lasted 58 minutes before Arne Slot took him off, the signs were encouraging.
In Germany, he was used to an explosive, transition-based system but, under Pep Guardiola, he had to get used to being patient and pouncing at the right moment.
Liverpool are very good in transition, so Isak will still get those opportunities but he will also need to learn to be patient during games like the 1-0 win over Burnley.
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Stan Collymore believes Isak will need to be willing to adjust a fair bit to fit in at Liverpool where he will not be the main man despite his £125m price tag.
“Watching Isak closely tonight,” Collymore wrote.
“Some early thoughts.
Like Haaland at City, he’s going to have to get used to fox in the box mode rather than ball over the top or being found early because every team visiting Anfield will drop off, so he’s going to have to get used to the discipline of getting in the box and sometimes not seeing the ball as much as he did at Newcastle.“
Not only does Isak need to adjust to Liverpool’s style of play compared to the service he was used to at Newcastle United, but the Reds haven’t had an elite striker since Luis Suarez.
At his peak, the Uruguayan scored 31 Premier League goals in a single season and nearly dragged Liverpool to the title in 2013-14.
Credit: Imago
Roberto Firmino was an elite player, but he wasn’t really a striker.
At Hoffenheim, the Brazilian was predominantly used as a number 10.
So it’s a new situation for both Liverpool and Isak.
One way that it’s much better at Anfield compared to St.
James’ Park is that the 25-year-old won’t find himself isolated as he did at times in a Newcastle shirt.
It won’t stop Isak from scoring plenty of goals but there may be games in which he struggles to identify the best spaces to occupy.
There were a few occasions against Atletico where Isak and Cody Gakpo were holding the same passing lane but that confusion will be cleared up in time.