Alexander Isak’s dazzling stats on Sweden return put Viktor Gyokeres in the shade in Liverpool boost
Arne Slot will have been left encouraged by Alexander Isak’s 18-minute cameo for Sweden after completing his record-breaking move to Liverpool.
Liverpool smashed their transfer record twice in 73 days over the summer to sign Isak for £125million from Newcastle United on deadline day, having already paid £116m Bayer Leverkusen for Florian Wirtz.
Isak went on strike early in pre-season to force through his move to Anfield, leading to accusations that the striker had “downed tools” for Newcastle last season, but these claims have since been dismissed.
Regardless, Isak’s lack of playing time over the summer and isolation from first-team training sessions at Newcastle have left him with ground to make up on his new team-mates, but that didn’t stop him being picked for international duty.
Alexander Isak overshadows Viktor Gyokeres in Sweden cameo
Sweden selecting Isak for their World Cup qualifiers against Slovenia and Kosovo gave the new Liverpool striker an opportunity to gain his first on-field minutes since May, ahead of the Reds’ return to action.
Isak was left on the bench in Ljubljana on 5 September as Sweden drew 2-2 with Slovenia, a game which saw Viktor Gyokeres underperform massively after his own £64million transfer to Arsenal in the summer.
Gyokeres had also failed to impress in the first 72 minutes against Kosovo before Isak was introduced with Sweden already 2-0 down, and Liverpool’s new number nine quickly impressed the onlooking fans.
In 18 minutes plus a further seven of stoppage time, Isak attempted four shots and managed three on target, registering 0.38 expected goals, and completed eight of his 10 passes with two in the final third.
Isak may have missed a big chance to get Sweden back into the game, but he also won a corner with one of his 17 touches, seven of which came in the box, as well as winning the only aerial duel he contested.
By contrast, Gyokeres managed just 0.14 xG from a mere two attempted across a full 90 minute display, and despite creating two chances, won just 40 per cent of his duels and was dispossessed four times.
| Alexander Isak | Statistic | Viktor Gyokeres |
| 18 | Minutes Played | 90 |
| 4 (3) | Shots (on target) | 2 (1) |
| 0.38 xG | Expected Goals | 0.14 xG |
| 0 | Chances Created | 2 |
| 1/1 | Duels won | 4/10 |
Liverpool link-up can’t come soon enough for Isak
It remains to be seen when Isak will make his Liverpool debut with Arne Slot having multiple attacking options at his disposal, including another big-money summer signing in the form of Hugo Ekitike.
Ekitike’s first three competitive Liverpool appearances each yielded goals, while Cody Gakpo, Federico Chiesa, Mohamed Salah and Rio Ngumoha have also found the net for the Reds this season already.
Slot will be keen to utilise his new number nine as soon as possible, and after he transformed Sweden’s attack with that late cameo, the Liverpool boss may look to introduce him off the bench in their clash at Burnley on 14 September.