Jason McAteer has criticised Alexander Isak for his 'anonymous' display in Liverpool's 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest, warning the striker that he can no longer use his lack of pre-season as an excuse. The Sweden international joined Liverpool from Newcastle United in a British record £125m move on transfer deadline day, having effectively gone on strike to force the transfer.
Isak has scored just once for Liverpool, in the League Cup against Southampton, and has failed to find the net in the Premier League. He made his return from a groin injury against Forest but touched the ball only 14 times and became the first player in Liverpool's history to lose all four of his first Premier League starts for the club.
McAteer, speaking on the Official Liverpool FC Podcast, said: 'He needs to do more. You can't keep churning the narrative that we are going to give him game-time. He is a professional footballer and knows what he needs to do. He was anonymous. Absolutely anonymous.'
The former Liverpool midfielder also highlighted a moment when Isak backed out of a tackle, causing the Anfield crowd to turn on him. 'That's the last thing you need when you're in that position,' McAteer added. 'You're not scoring, not playing well and you've backed out of a tackle.'
Isak's slow start has been attributed to a disjointed pre-season, but McAteer insists the 26-year-old must now deliver. 'We can't keep churning the narrative out that he's had no pre-season. He has got to produce,' he concluded.
