Isak Must Step Up for…

The unfortunate injury to striker Hugo Ekitike during the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal loss to Paris Saint-Germain illustrates the challenges throughout Liverpool‘s season. Ekitike’s ruptured Achilles will not only hinder their current campaign but also threaten their plans for the next season.

Currently, Liverpool finds itself in a difficult position, and losing their top scorer Ekitike, who was stretchered off on Tuesday night, exacerbates the gloom that has overshadowed the Reds’ struggling Premier League title defense.

The 23-year-old forward had brought a bit of optimism following his £69 million transfer from Eintracht Frankfurt last summer. Unfortunately, he now faces at least nine months out, which jeopardizes his chances of participating in the 2026 World Cup with France and limits his opportunity to build on a promising debut season at Anfield.

In Ekitike’s absence, Liverpool can rely on £125 million striker Alexander Isak, who joined the club from Newcastle United on deadline day last September. Despite the excitement surrounding his British-record signing, a mix of injuries, inconsistent form, and fitness issues have hindered the Sweden international from fulfilling expectations.

Isak has only logged 859 minutes with Liverpool this season, a stark contrast to the 2,253 minutes he played for Newcastle last season, where he netted 27 goals and earned a spot in the PFA Team of the Year. This term, he has recorded just three goals, two in the Premier League, and has been in the starting lineup for only 11 of Liverpool’s 50 matches.

Head coach Arne Slot has acknowledged that fans may need to be patient before seeing the “best Alex.” However, with Ekitike’s injury and the urgent need for Champions League qualification at stake, that patience must be shortened.

PSG gamble backfired, but Isak is “ready” to step up

Isak’s on-field performance has been overshadowed by injuries; for instance, while scoring the opening goal against Tottenham Hotspur in December, he also fractured his fibula, sidelining him for 100 days.

After making brief appearances against PSG and Fulham, he was finally given a starting spot in the second leg against PSG, although Slot shared beforehand that he anticipated Isak wouldn’t last beyond 45 minutes.

While Slot faced criticism for his honesty, it made sense to include Isak in the starting lineup, particularly as Liverpool required two goals to even the aggregate score. Given the possibility of extra time, Slot made a calculated risk by hoping Isak would make an early impact before needing to replace him.

Regrettably, this gamble did not pay off, as Isak had a minimal impact in the first half, touching the ball only five times before being substituted by Cody Gakpo at halftime.

Initially slated to replace Isak, Mohamed Salah was called to enter earlier due to Ekitike’s injury, leading to mixed reactions regarding Slot’s decision not to start Salah after his impressive performance against Fulham. Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher expressed disbelief, stating, “I can’t understand why Salah is not playing. He’s one of Liverpool’s best goal scorers, and he’s used to this system. Isak has never really played with Ekitike before.”

The lack of chemistry between Isak and Ekitike was evident; Tuesday marked only their second time starting together alongside Florian Wirtz. Unfortunately, Ekitike’s injury limited their collaboration to just 115 minutes this season.

Those seeking silver linings in Isak’s otherwise quiet game could highlight that he was responsible for Liverpool’s first shot on target, redirecting a header from a set piece by Dominik Szoboszlai into PSG goalkeeper Matvei Safonov’s gloves. Additionally, he was in a promising position when Ryan Gravenberch found him, but Isak was ruled offside after a misstep. This moment echoed back to his earlier goal against Tottenham and offered hope that, with time, Isak can hone his finishing skills.

“He had two near misses, and that’s why you put a striker of his caliber on the field,” Slot remarked in his post-match conference. “He forced a shot from a set-piece header and had a brilliant run behind [Willian] Pacho. It’s great to have him back. He was ready to play, and if I thought otherwise, I wouldn’t have started him.”

Isak “taking charge” of his future

Isak’s readiness could be crucial to Liverpool’s success as they face a challenging schedule ahead that includes matchups against top-five teams like Manchester United, Chelsea, and Aston Villa. The results from these matches will likely affect the perception of Slot as he prepares for a key summer.

This weekend, the Reds will clash with Everton in the first Merseyside derby at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Isak made his Premier League debut against them back in September when Liverpool was at the top of the league.

The mood at Anfield has dramatically shifted since then, but few things would endear Isak to the Liverpool fanbase more than finding the net against Everton. With Salah expected to depart the club this summer, Isak could be poised to become the focal point of Liverpool’s attack once the Egyptian superstar leaves.

With only one game each week leading up to the end of the season, Isak will have ample opportunity to train and strengthen his relationships with his teammates. Having climbed the ranks from the Swedish Allsvenskan to the German Bundesliga and La Liga, Isak knows the importance of hard work.

“He is shaping his own future,” Peter Wennberg, his former coach at AIK in Stockholm, shared with ESPN last year. “He isn’t relying on anyone else to determine his path; he is taking control.”

Now would indeed be an ideal moment for Isak to guide Liverpool toward a successful conclusion to the season.