Liverpool striker Alexander Isak has found himself at the centre of an unexpected debate after his reaction to scoring his first Premier League goal for the club was labelled miserable by a leading broadcaster.
The Goal That Sparked the Debate
On Sunday, during Liverpool's 2-0 victory over West Ham United at the London Stadium, Alexander Isak finally broke his Premier League duck for the Reds. The moment came on the hour mark when Cody Gakpo pulled the ball back from the byline, allowing Isak to calmly side-foot home from 12 yards. A late goal from Gakpo later sealed the three points.
However, it was Isak's immediate reaction that captured attention. Rather than an outpouring of joy or relief, the Swedish international's face remained stern and unsmiling. This stark contrast to the typical elation of a goalscorer did not go unnoticed by the commentary team at talkSPORT.
'Prime Minister of Misery' - Pundits React
Veteran presenter Jeff Stelling was quick to comment on the striker's demeanour. "He scored a great goal, but his celebration was grim-faced," Stelling observed. "Alexander Isak is the Prime Minister of misery."
His co-host, former Rangers and Scotland striker Ally McCoist, echoed the sentiment, drawing a comparison with a Liverpool legend. "He's playing in a position where one of Liverpool's greatest goalscorers, when he scored a goal, his face lit up a stadium and that was Kenny Dalglish," McCoist said. "There was never a happier scorer of a goal than Kenny. I like my goalscorers to be happy."
McCoist questioned why a player wouldn't show delight at achieving the primary objective of their position. "The whole object of the game is to put the ball in the back of the net. When you do it why don't you just enjoy it and put a smile on your face. It looked as though he's got the world on his shoulders."
Stelling suggested the weight of expectation from his transfer fee might be a factor, stating, "He looks like he has with that price tag." He added a note of encouragement mixed with advice: "Look, he hasn't delivered so far, for whatever reason. I suspect he probably will. At the moment, he needs to get the fans on side somehow and maybe show a bit of joy and a little bit of passion, that might help."
Isak and Slot Respond to the Goal
Speaking after the match, Isak acknowledged the wait for the goal was over. "I'm aware that it's been a long time coming," he admitted. "I've been trying to get back to my best form and I'm still on the way. But I'm happy to have that goal."
He described his feelings as a "mix," prioritising the team's success. "The most important [and] best feeling today is that we won the game, that's the best way to get a good spirit within the group, and that's helpful for the individual as well. But, of course I'm a striker, so scoring goals will always help me."
Liverpool manager Arne Slot also recognised the goal's significance for both the team and the player. "It's very important for us as a team that we went 1-0 up, but I think it was also important for him because I think it was his third or fourth chance of this game," Slot said. "I don't think there was much more than 10 minutes in him to go, so then to score just before you come off was important for us, but also for him."
The striker's mood was unlikely to have been lifted in Liverpool's following match, a draw against Sunderland. Isak was substituted with five minutes remaining as the team searched for a winner, having been unable to impact the scoreline.
