Alexander Isak agreement reached as Liverpool told how to get the best out of striker

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“One thing I’m negative about Isak is that his game has to change.“His game was brilliant at Newcastle because they played on the counter at Newcastle, they played in behind the opposition defence which suited Isak because he’s quick.“They used to play balls over the top and boom, Isak, (Jacob) Murphy, (Anthony) Gordon, they were all dangerous because of that.“Now, he’s playing for Liverpool, who have the ball more and have to open doors more. Most teams who play Liverpool have a brick wall you have to get through.“Mentally, he has a different game he has to get to now because in the past the team played to his attributes; he isn’t going to get that at Liverpool.”Magpies legend Alan Shearer had made a similar claim after seeing Isak score his first Premier League goal for Liverpool as he too took issue with how the Reds are feeding the striker the ball.“I do think there were little signs that they are going to have to get used to him and also play earlier ball into him because a lot of what Alex does is off the cuff,” he told the Rest is Football podcast.

To get the best out of him, you have got to do that.”Meanwhile, on Match of the Day, he said: “It’s about getting the very best from him, which at times he’s going to need help from his team-mates.“He has to do better, obviously, we’ve not seen as much as we thought. But we saw it’s very much a work in progress.“There were some really positive signs but also signs where he can definitely improve with his teammates’ understanding of what he needs to make his game better.“This one he has every right to moan, shout, scream (at Joe Gomez), there’s no need to take a touch there, it’s a great ball to whip in.“It doesn’t come in first time, it has to then come in second time with the left foot otherwise you’re doing the forward no good whatsoever.

It’s a really good opportunity to get the ball into a forward who needs to be fed.“Same thing again, I think that’s a good run, if he doesn’t get it the first time he has to get it the second time, again that ball has to come in. He works the space really well, doesn’t do a lot to create it, sometimes standing still is the best part, but that is a fantastic finish, that is what he’s all about.“But he needs his team-mates to help him do it, there are so many times where the ball can come in earlier for him and go in behind.”