Alexander Isak showed exactly why Liverpool invested heavily in him after producing a stunning first-half display against Ipswich Town.
The Swedish striker scored twice in the space of nine minutes at Portman Road, giving Liverpool a commanding 2-0 lead. His performance came just days after former Reds star Roberto Firmino offered him some important advice: stay positive, relax and trust that the goals would eventually come.
Isak’s first goal was a classic striker’s finish. He collected a pass from Cody Gakpo and fired a powerful effort towards the near post, beating Ipswich goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen. The second goal was even more impressive.
Gakpo delivered a brilliant pass with the outside of his boot to release Isak behind the defence. The Liverpool forward still had plenty to do, but he showed excellent composure, moving past Jacob Greaves before calmly placing his effort into the bottom corner.
Isak nearly completed a first-half hat-trick in the 33rd minute when he turned home a low cross from Florian Wirtz, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
The 26-year-old entered the new season with plenty of pressure on his shoulders following his £125 million move to Liverpool. His previous campaign was affected by injuries and inconsistent form, while he also struggled during Liverpool’s opening-day draw against Newcastle. However, he opened his account against Nottingham Forest and carried that momentum into the Ipswich match.
Firmino understands better than most how difficult it can be to make an immediate impact at Liverpool. The Brazilian arrived at Anfield in 2015 but failed to score during his first three months at the club. His fortunes eventually changed after Jurgen Klopp moved him into a central attacking role.
Firmino went on to become one of Liverpool’s most important players, scoring 111 goals and winning seven trophies during his time with the club.
Speaking recently about Isak, Firmino insisted that the Swedish striker should not allow the pressure surrounding his huge transfer fee to affect him. He believes every forward experiences difficult periods and pointed out that Isak has already proven himself to be one of the Premier League’s top strikers.
According to Firmino, Isak simply needed to remain calm, stay confident and give himself time to adapt. He also stressed that the striker’s difficult previous season should not define him because injuries prevented him from building momentum.
With a new manager and more time to develop relationships with his teammates, Firmino believes Isak can continue growing in confidence and take advantage of the opportunities created for him.
Against Ipswich, that prediction appeared to come true. Isak played with confidence, power and composure, scoring twice in quick succession and almost completing a hat-trick.
If this performance is a sign of what is to come, Liverpool supporters will be hoping that Isak has finally found the confidence and form needed to live up to his enormous price tag.
