Andoni Iraola has challenged Alexander Isak to show why he is a £125m Liverpool striker this season, starting with what will be a hostile reception at Newcastle United on Sunday.
Isak endured a miserable first year on Merseyside after arriving for a British-record transfer fee on September 1 last year from this weekend's opponents. After a protracted move was finally completed on transfer deadline day, the Sweden international struggled to get himself fit after a troubled pre-season with the Magpies, when he effectively went on strike to force his dream move.
A leg break in December then kept him sidelined for four months and Isak only scored three Premier League goals for Arne Slot as the Reds limped into fifth on the final day of the campaign.
Pre-season return and challenge
The 26-year-old has played a part in every pre-season game since his return to the fold earlier this month, however. And Iraola says Isak has to now deliver at Anfield, beginning with a trip to St James' Park where the home crowd will almost certainly look to single out their former hero.
"I think it is a massive season for Alexander," Iraola said. "He knows at the end it is (about) two things: the first is availability, and without availability we cannot have the second thing, which is the performance level."
"But I think this has to be the first aim for us, to keep him in a good place in terms of being available. I’m sure if we manage to do this he will perform well because he has been very good during the pre-season."
Iraola on Isak's qualities
"If we can keep him at a good level he will score his goals and he will be a threat. I have no doubts about his level. I think he’s quite a unique No.9 in terms of he can come to receive and be technically very clean, and he can also be very good attacking the space."
"Sometimes you get one thing or the other, like a player who comes to link up play and sets the others or a player who is just quick and attacks the spaces, but he can do both. Also, my biggest fight (in pre-season) has been about our press, how to position, how to help the players that he has behind, and I think he is willing to do it and to understand. He is improving with every friendly we’ve played."
Clean slate approach
Asked if Iraola had spoken to Isak directly about the difficulties endured last season, the head coach said: "No. I have a lot of conversations with staff and with players but I wasn’t here last season."
"You have to be open-minded when you come to a new place and don’t be too affected by the things they tell you about what happened before. You have to try to understand the picture but I think everyone is willing to improve."
"I haven’t spent too much time thinking: ‘Okay, this didn’t work last season’. I have seen the games and I have my ideas but I prefer to start with a clean slate rather than try to solve the things that didn’t work last season."
