Alexander Isak has vowed to “fight” to regain the form that saw him join Liverpool for £125 million at the start of September. The most expensive player in English football history insists he has not gone through the most difficult period of his career.
Isak’s move to Merseyside came after a protracted summer turmoil in which he boycotted Newcastle’s pre-season tour of the Far East, before training voluntarily at the facilities of his former club Real Sociedad without the consent of Eddie Howe. The striker has been completely absent from Newcastle’s pre-season preparations due to his bitter departure from the North East.
This means he was not at peak fitness when he made his blockbuster move to Anfield on deadline day.
The 26-year-old was also sidelined for four weeks with a groin problem in October, but has only scored one goal for Liverpool in the Premier League, a 2-0 win over West Ham last month.
Now he looks like a shadow of the player who terrorized Newcastle defenders last season, scoring 23 goals.
Despite his struggles, Isak won Sweden’s 2025 Guldbolen Award for his performances for club and country throughout the calendar year.
Speaking to Sportbladet in his native Sweden, he vowed to return to the standards that had established him as the Premier League’s most feared marksman before his summer departure. “(Liverpool’s interest) was the most interesting thing for me,” Isak revealed.
“I felt from quite early on that this is where I wanted to go. The big picture. The history of the club, where the club is now and the next steps for the club to take.
“I don’t have an answer to that (why it was slow) at all. The team was slow, of course, but that’s the world of football. There are always teams that are doing well, but other teams are slowing down. It’s important to turn that around.”
“And for me personally, it’s not the first time in my career that I’ve gone through periods like this and been unwell. That’s what a football career is like, you just have to fight your way out of it.”
The striker continued: “I don’t know[which period has been the toughest so far]. I’m not going to choose one. It’s all about experience. There are good and bad times.”
“And apart from the loan spell in Holland (Willem II), I’ve had tougher times with every team I’ve been in: at Dortmund, at Spain, at Newcastle and here.
“I don’t focus too much on just that it was the most difficult. I look at it as an experience that will hopefully bring me to the other side as a better person and a better player.”
“We soccer players live in a different world from the outside world. We don’t reflect or criticize too much.
“During the season you don’t judge too much. That also applies when everything is going well. The important thing is to evaluate after the season, and during that time you don’t have to think too much.”
“When I look back on my football career, I want to be proud of what I achieved, not just on the pitch, but also in the countries I played in.”
Issac could feature when Tottenham host Liverpool in the Premier League on Saturday night.
The Reds are aiming for a six-game unbeaten streak in all competitions.
