Alexander Isak 'suits' Andoni Iraola as Liverpool striker defended - 'a different player'

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SportFootballLiverpool FCLiverpool striker Alexander Isak had a difficult first season after £125m transfer from Newcastle UnitedAndoni Iraola has been backed to extract more from Alexander Isak with claims the style of the new Liverpool head coach better suits the club record signing.Isak had a miserable debut campaign following his £125million move from Newcastle United last September, hampered by fitness and injury issues including a broken leg suffered at Tottenham Hotspur shortly before Christmas.The 26-year-old scored only four goals and contributed a single assist during 22 appearances for the Reds, with just 13 games coming as a starter.However, Isak had four goal contributions in as many outings at the World Cup with Sweden, and former England international Danny Mills - now a media pundit - is convinced the forward can become more of an influence under Iraola than the sacked Arne Slot."It's a fresh start for Alexander Isak and an opportunity to kick on," said Mills. "It didn't start well at Liverpool last year with the debacle around the transfer, not turning up for training, not being fit, and then picking up an injury."That snowballed throughout the season.

It almost wrote the season off for him, and it goes back to not having a pre-season."When you aren't fit and go into high-intensity games, you pick up injuries. With a new start and a new manager, the manager will be looking at how to get the best out of him."The way Andoni Iraola played at Bournemouth probably suits him a little bit more.

All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook page"We have to look at the first few games of pre-season to see the style at Liverpool, but it may well suit Isak."Speaking to Snabbare.com, Mills added: "If he has a proper pre-season, he might be a different player this year. I wouldn't judge him overly harshly."You can judge him for the way he manufactured the move, which ultimately cost him form, but don't judge him solely on the form of last year because the circumstances were partly caused by himself."Yes, judge him for the move, but don't judge him on the form of last year because there were circumstances equally that were caused by himself."Choose Liverpool Echo as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.Liverpool FCAlexander IsakAndoni Iraola