Liverpool fans got their first real look at Alexander Isak in red as the club’s new No.9 made his debut in the dramatic 3-2 Champions League win over Atlético Madrid at Anfield.
The 25-year-old striker impressed in his 58-minute appearance, linking up sharply with Mohamed Salah, Florian Wirtz and Cody Gakpo before making way as Virgil van Dijk’s stoppage-time header sealed the victory. While Ryan Gravenberch was widely praised as the standout performer, Isak’s bright introduction gave supporters a glimpse of what he will bring in the months ahead.
Slot Impressed by Isak’s Fitness
Speaking after the match, head coach Arne Slot admitted he was pleasantly surprised by the Swede’s readiness:
“I was positively surprised by how fit he was during that 60 minutes. That maybe tells you the difference between signing a 20-year-old from another league and signing a 25- or 26-year-old used to playing here.
Although he only trained for two weeks, he has so many games under his belt that he’s more able to be ready for 60. I wasn’t surprised by his quality—we all know what he can do.”
Liverpool’s £125 million signing from Newcastle showed composure, intelligent movement, and neat combinations in attack, particularly in one sequence of play with Wirtz that drew gasps from the Kop.
Careful Build-Up for Premier League and Derby
Slot also confirmed that Isak will not be rushed into playing a full 90 minutes, with the upcoming Merseyside derby against Everton coming too soon for him to complete a full match:
“It’s always nice to see if a player starts the way he did, like Hugo Ekitike did. It’s a good start—only 60 minutes—but now we have to build him up from here.”
With Isak settling quickly and Liverpool’s attacking depth looking stronger than ever, fans can expect the Swede to become a central figure as the season progresses.
