Alexander Isak scored his seventh Premier League goal of the season as Liverpool secured a 3-1 win at Crystal Palace on Sunday, a result that provided a boost after a difficult week for the club.
The Sweden international's neat finish for Liverpool's third goal at Selhurst Park was his seventh in nine Premier League appearances this term, matching his best start to a top-flight campaign in England. He previously achieved the feat in 2023/24 with Newcastle United, when he went on to score 21 times in the competition.
This time around, Isak has reached the mark in a shorter period, doing so in 10 games having only sat out one Premier League match so far, a notable 3-0 defeat at home to Manchester City. The reverse came immediately after the last international break, in which Isak suffered a thigh injury with Sweden that ruled him out of two Liverpool games.
Iraola hopes for international fitness
Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola will be hoping Isak negotiates Sweden's forthcoming UEFA Nations League games against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Saturday and in Poland next Tuesday without issue, given the visit of Manchester United looms when the Premier League resumes later this month.
Isak's goal was the fourth consecutive away league game in which he has scored, the first Liverpool player to achieve such a feat since Mohamed Salah. It was only the second of the seven games in which he has scored in all competitions where he hasn't netted either an equaliser or a winner, underlining that his goals usually change the state and flow of a game.
Service and support improving
The forward has moved on to eight goals for the campaign overall, already double the figure he managed during a debut campaign hampered by injury, fitness issues and loss of form. The conversation has shifted from whether he can deliver for Liverpool to how the Reds can best provide service to Isak as the 27-year-old better realises the demands laid down by Iraola.
Florian Wirtz's assist for Isak at Palace was his first since the pass that invited the Swede to score at Tottenham Hotspur last December. Cody Gakpo's cross for Isak at Fenerbahce in midweek was the fourth time this campaign he has set up the forward, with Bradley Barcola providing two further assists.
Having publicly reminded Isak of his responsibilities regarding teamwork earlier in the season, Iraola praised the forward on Sunday for his work off the ball. "The one I appreciate more is the movement he does in Florian's goal," he said. "He attacks very well the first post, he leaves the space in behind for Florian to arrive, good play from Bradley. And it's not just the goals. We need this kind of help from the team-mate, sometimes sacrifice your option for your team-mate."
Efficiency in front of goal
Isak is very much an out-and-out number nine, albeit a modern variant in the mould of Manchester City's Erling Haaland. He won't be involved in much of the general play, but will be expected to take opportunities when they arise. The Liverpool man had only 30 touches against Palace before being substituted shortly after his 89th-minute goal, easily the fewest of any player on either side who featured for a similar period during the game.
There is a shout Isak is becoming the most efficient leading striker in the Premier League. The opening he spurned when firing at Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson after being played clear by Victor Munoz was only the fourth big chance he had missed in the top flight this season, compared to seven from Haaland and 16 from Everton's Thierno Barry.
Only Haaland has scored more goals in the Premier League this season than Isak, while in all competitions Barry and Nicolas Jackson of Aston Villa are also above the Liverpool man. Isak's xG in the Premier League of 4.9 is behind only Barry (7.3) and Haaland (7.1), but he is outperforming his xG more than the duo. His shot conversion rate of 28% surpasses all of his leading striker rivals, as does his goals per shot ratio of 0.28 and goals per shot on target ratio of 0.64.
The numbers back up the fact Isak is finally becoming the player Liverpool knew they were buying, and the one Iraola wants him to be.
