Liverpool’s record £125 million signing Alexander Isak saw out a full match for the first time in a Liverpool shirt on Saturday afternoon, shouldering the hope—and scrutiny—that comes with being one of world football’s costliest forwards.
In a 2-1 defeat at Selhurst Park against Crystal Palace, Isak’s endurance and occasional flashes of threat offered encouragement, even as the lack of a decisive moment underlined the uphill road he faces in proving his worth in Merseyside red.
The match was Liverpool’s first league loss of the campaign and carried double weight: not only did it snap their early-season momentum, it also presented a stage for Isak to show he can handle the ebb and flow of a full ninety minutes at this level.
He was eventually substituted in the 84th minute for Rio Ngumoha as the Reds chased an equaliser. While he did not score, his performance generated discussion among pundits, supporters, and the Liverpool camp alike.
Isak’s journey to this point has not been straightforward. He arrived at Liverpool from Newcastle United on 1 September 2025 in a British-record deal, seen as the keystone in Arne Slot’s attacking ambitions.
However, coming off limited pre-season minutes and battling fitness concerns, his introduction to the starting lineup has been cautious. In earlier matches, Slot limited his minutes, citing the need to build sharpness gradually.
Alexander Isak vs. Crystal Palace:
• 0 G/A
• 0 shots on target
• 6/10 passes
• 2/3 aerial duels won
• 0 key passes
• 0% ground duels won
• 0% dribbles pic.twitter.com/6cnH1fd0ut— The Touchline | (@TouchlineX) September 27, 2025
In this fixture, Slot defended his decision to let Isak remain on the pitch for so long, pointing to the match’s low intensity. “That had a lot to do with the low intensity of the game,” Slot said in the post-match press. “If you face a low block, 10 players in and around their own 18-yard box … you might not play him for 84 in a more open game. But in a game like this, where your No. 9 is mainly not so involved, 84 minutes was just about manageable.”
Slot also noted that Isak was “very honest to stay on his feet” when challenged, and that a slight shirt pull may have unbalanced him in a chance to shoot. Offensively, Isak registered three shots and touched the ball 19 times, creating two “big chances” that slipped just wide of a finishing touch.
Throughout the first half, Isak drifted between central and right attacking positions, trying to find pockets of space behind Palace’s defensive lines. His link-up play was promising—he engaged in combinations with Federico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah—but he was often starved of consistent service, partly due to Palace’s compact defensive block.
When the tempo increased late in each half, Isak showed glimpses of his physicality and movement, but was unable to convert those into a match-defining moment.
Liverpool’s fans and media were divided in their response. Some described the showing as solid under the circumstances, emphasizing his conditioning and willingness to run when called upon.
Others, more critical, noted that a player of his price tag must not only survive 84 minutes but also make a tangible impact, especially in tight matches. The absence of a goal or a telling assist left questions about his sharpness and decision-making in the final third.
The broader backdrop to Isak’s mission is the weight of expectations that tag along with an expensive, marquee signing. At Newcastle, he amassed 54 goals in 86 Premier League appearances and entered Liverpool as one of the league’s most feared forwards.
But Liverpool’s system under Slot demands more than just goal-scoring: work rate, pressing from the front, spatial interplay, and synergy with wide attackers.
The challenge is sharpened by the presence of Hugo Ekitike, who has impressed in rotation and was handed opportunities in other cup matches. Ekitike’s red card in a recent League Cup match following a shirt-removal celebration drew ire from Slot as “needless,” but it also opens space in the rotation for Isak to assert himself.
Amid this competition, Isak must find consistency, especially in fixtures where Liverpool need him to close out results.