Liverpool told what’s holding Alexander Isak back after £125m transfer – ‘You can see’

Alexander Isak has struggled to make an impact at Liverpool since signing in a record-breaking £125m deal from Newcastle United, scoring just one goal so far

Former Manchester United striker Louis Saha has revealed why he thinks Alexander Isak is struggling to replicate his Newcastle United heroics since his blockbuster switch to Liverpool. The Reds snapped up Isak from the Magpies on transfer deadline day in a mammoth £125million deal.

Since his departure from St James’ Park, Isak has managed just one goal for Liverpool in eight outings, which came against Southampton in the Carabao Cup.

Isak had gone three consecutive Premier League matches without finding the net before sitting out the loss to Brentford with a groin problem.

Prior to his Anfield switch, Isak bagged 27 goals for Newcastle last season, including the winner in the Carabao Cup final triumph over the Reds in March.

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That impressive form saw Isak secure a place in the PFA Team of the Year for last season but that version of the striker is currently a far cry from the one who has arrived at Anfield.

Saha, who netted 84 goals across 288 Premier League appearances during stints at Manchester United, Everton, Newcastle, Tottenham Hotspur, Fulham and Sunderland, has now delivered his assessment and claimed that Isak is guilty of overthinking things.

“You can see that there is something holding Alexander Isak back,” Saha told BetVictor. “Whatever it is, he’s taking a split second to think about things, whereas at Newcastle, everything was very natural.

“That’s why he was unpredictable, he could strike balls from left, right, and centre, header, and his movement was really, really difficult to mark. But this is something you have to adapt to.

“Now, without the best physique, you always have to concentrate more, and that’s not easy.

“So I think it’s just about gaining that confidence to the best level, especially as Liverpool is perhaps struggling at the moment with things going well. I’m sure Isak is going to be part of that success.”

However, Arne Slot has a wealth of attacking options, including Hugo Ekitike, Federico Chiesa and Cody Gakpo, who can step in if Isak continues to falter.

Ekitike, another summer signing, has made an impressive start, becoming the club’s joint top scorer this season with three goals from eight league matches.

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