Liverpool have opened the season with back-to-back 2-2 draws, despite Iraola’s side seeing 60% possession against Newcastle last week and 70% against Forest. In both matches they fell behind and are still yet to lead in the Premier League.
That context has made things tougher for Isak, who thrived in Newcastle’s counter-attacking setup; facing deep, compact defenses is a different task.
It also highlights a broader challenge for Iraola. Last season, his Bournemouth team won only four of the 19 league games in which they had the majority of the ball, compared with nine wins from the other 19. Known for counter-pressing and quick transitions, the Cherries didn’t win a single match when their possession topped 58.8%. In short, they were more effective without the ball—an approach he’s unlikely to rely on often at Anfield.
Hart said Liverpool’s attacking play isn’t clicking, and with the Premier League’s physicality and some uncertainty about their current approach, opponents are getting on top of them. He added that it will take substantial work on the training ground, but backed Iraola as a top coach with top players.
Asked about setting targets, Isak said he doesn’t really do that; every striker wants to score in every game, even if that’s difficult, so he focuses on one match at a time. Still, while this was a step up from his display against Newcastle, he’ll know he can—and needs to—produce more.