Liverpool spent a massive £125 million to bring Alexander Isak to Anfield last summer. That is a British record fee. When you pay that much for a player people expect goals immediately. But it has not worked out like that so far for the Swedish striker. He has only managed to score three goals this season and fans are starting to ask questions about the deal.
Arne Slot has finally addressed the situation before the game against Crystal Palace. He was asked when the 26-year-old will actually look like a world-class player again. Slot says we won’t see the best of Isak until he gets a full pre-season under his belt. This season has been a mess for him because of injuries and the late move from Newcastle. He is basically playing catch-up while everyone else is at full speed.
The manager thinks the ideal scenario is a slow build. He wants Isak to get consistent minutes without getting hurt again. And he even thinks the World Cup this summer will help. Most managers hate their players going away for international tournaments. But Slot thinks the extra games will help Isak find his rhythm. It is a strange situation for a record signing to be in.
The broken leg that ruined everything
You have to look at the injury history to understand why Isak is struggling. He broke his leg earlier this season and that kept him out for four months. That is a huge chunk of time to miss. Especially when you are trying to learn a new tactical system under a new manager. According to a report by The Evening Standard, Isak has been in survival mode lately. He is just trying to get through the matches rather than dominating them.
Slot said in his press conference that Isak is back to full fitness now. But being fit to play and being at your peak level are two different things. He is not in peak physical condition yet. He looks a bit slow compared to how he was at Newcastle. And his confidence has clearly taken a hit because the goals aren’t coming. Three goals for £125 million is a stat that will always draw criticism from the media.
“He is in a stage where he is surviving games rather than being at his best level. The best-case scenario is him getting through this season and then having a proper pre-season in the summer.”
Slot is being very patient here. He knows the talent is there because we all saw it at St James’ Park. But the timing of the transfer in August 2025 did not help. He missed the chance to work with the squad in July. Then the leg fracture happened almost immediately. It’s just been one bad thing after another for the guy. He’s had no luck at all since moving to Merseyside.
The massive pressure of the record fee
The £125 million price tag is a heavy weight to carry. Every time he misses a chance the cameras pan to his face. People compare him to other big signings who hit the ground running. But the reality is that the injury changed the whole trajectory of his debut season. Goal noted that Slot is asking for patience from the supporters. He knows how good Isak can be when he’s actually sharp.
And it’s not just the injury that’s the problem. He’s also trying to adapt to Slot’s specific tactics. Slot plays a different way than Eddie Howe did at Newcastle. Isak is having to learn where to run and when to press in a completely different structure. It takes time for any player to get used to that. And doing it while recovering from a broken bone is twice as hard. It’s a tough spot for any striker.
But the club is not panicked. They signed him for the long term. They didn’t just sign him for one season. They see him as the future of the attack alongside Gakpo and Salah. If he can get through the next few weeks healthy then the summer will be his big chance. A full pre-season in 2026 is when Slot expects the real Isak to show up. That is the timeline the club is working with right now.
Injury crisis ahead of Crystal Palace
Liverpool are going into the Palace game with some serious problems. They have 11 players who might miss out. That is a massive number of absentees for any squad. Alisson is a major doubt and Mamardashvili is already out. That means Freddie Woodman might have to start in goal. It’s a lot of pressure on a third-choice keeper. Slot has to hope the defense stays solid in front of him.
Hugo Ekitike is also out for the season with an ACL injury. That puts even more pressure on Isak to perform. He is expected to feature against Palace on Saturday but don’t expect a full 90 minutes. He’s still being managed carefully. Slot doesn’t want to risk another setback now that he’s finally back. The team needs him to stay fit for the run-in even if he isn’t scoring heaps of goals yet.
Predicted Liverpool XI vs Palace
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Woodman / Alisson |
| Defense | Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez |
| Midfield | Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Wirtz |
| Attack | Salah, Gakpo, Isak |
It’s still a strong team on paper even with the injuries. Having Wirtz and Salah behind him should give Isak plenty of chances. But Palace away is always a scrap. They will be physical and they will try to test that broken leg. Isak needs to show he can handle the rough stuff. If he can grab a goal it would do wonders for his confidence before the summer break.
As Liverpoolfc.com confirmed in the press conference notes, Slot is keeping the faith. He’s not listening to the outside noise about the transfer fee. He knows that building a top player takes time. And he’s willing to wait until the 2026/27 season to see the £125 million version of Alexander Isak. For now we just have to watch him find his feet again. It’s going to be a long process but the talent is worth the wait.
