Former Liverpool forward Emile Heskey believes Alexander Isak is finally looking more like the player who impressed at Newcastle United. Isak scored 44 Premier League goals in his last two seasons with the Magpies, prompting Liverpool to pay a British record £125m transfer fee for him last summer.
In an injury-hit first campaign at Anfield, the 27-year-old scored only three times in 14 top-flight appearances. Under new head coach Andoni Iraola, however, Isak has scored six goals in seven league games this season.
Heskey Praises Isak's Improvement
Heskey said: "Isak is starting to show more of what we saw at Newcastle, and that is what got everyone connected with Liverpool excited when the club were first linked to him and then when he eventually joined."
"In his recent outings, we've seen more and more of that. He's looking sharper, he's starting to score goals, and it looks like he's starting to develop a relationship with Florian Wirtz."
"Of course, you still want a little bit more from him, because you always want more, but he's starting to show a little bit more of what he is. Long may that continue."
Key Clash Against Arsenal
Liverpool host Arsenal at Anfield this afternoon. Heskey believes the attacking trio of Isak, Wirtz and Bradley Barcola need to deliver against the league leaders.
"Well, they've got to be on fire to go against that defence," the former forward said. "We all know that Arsenal are one of the meanest defensive teams in world football."
"I think they've got what it takes to play and upset them, of course. We've seen it time and time again with these players at previous clubs, but we need to see it for Liverpool."
"We need to see them attacking with intent, we need to see goals, we need to see them destroying defenders."
"Let's also be mindful that this is essentially an attack that is still building chemistry together and things take time to click. It would be great to see those three players catch fire against Arsenal."
Title Race Implications
A win would move Liverpool three points behind Arsenal in the Premier League table. Although Iraola played down title talk on Friday, Heskey believes a victory would spark talk of Liverpool as contenders.
"For a club like Liverpool, with our ambitions, whenever you're playing against your rivals, you've got to beat them really," he said. "It doesn't always work out like that and there's always going to be blips. There's always going to be games that you don't win. That's the beautiful thing about the Premier League."
"I won't put everything on this game, but yeah, playing Arsenal, the current champions, at home, it's the type of game where we could really set standards for the rest of the season and get people talking about Liverpool as title contenders."
Heskey, speaking via BestBettingSites.co.uk, concluded: "I think there's pressure, but I don't know if it's because of that loss to Manchester City. I think there's pressure because we're Liverpool Football Club. You need to be winning games, you need to be challenging at the top."
"We need to be really pushing and challenging for titles. What an opportunity to make a statement when the champions come to town."
