Liverpool's record signing Alexander Isak is under intense scrutiny after former Reds star Jason McAteer delivered a brutal assessment of his 'anonymous' performance during Saturday's 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest.
Record Signing Struggles to Make Impact
The Swedish international, who joined Liverpool from Newcastle United in a British record £125 million deal on transfer deadline day, has failed to score in the Premier League since his high-profile move. His only goal for the club came in the League Cup against Championship side Southampton.
Isak's difficult start at Anfield has been compounded by a groin injury that sidelined him for five matches. His return against Forest proved particularly disappointing, with the striker touching the ball just 14 times during the match and becoming the first player in Liverpool's history to lose his first four Premier League starts for the club.
McAteer's Blunt Warning
Speaking on the Official Liverpool FC Podcast, former midfielder Jason McAteer challenged the narrative that Isak's struggles could be blamed on his disrupted pre-season. The striker had trained alone for much of the summer after effectively going on strike at Newcastle to force through his move.
'He needs to do more,' McAteer stated bluntly. '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. He was absolutely anonymous.'
McAteer highlighted a specific moment in the second half where he felt Isak's movement and decision-making were lacking, suggesting the striker was 'thinking about it too much' rather than instinctively positioning himself to score.
Crowd Reaction Turns Negative
The most damning moment came when Isak pulled out of a challenge in the middle of the park, prompting a negative reaction from the Anfield faithful. McAteer claimed this was a pivotal moment that could define the striker's early relationship with the supporters.
'The crowd turned on him,' McAteer revealed. 'That's the last thing you need when you're in that position. You're not scoring, not playing well and you've backed out of a tackle. That was your opportunity to win the ball, win something. That's when you can change the crowd.'
The former Liverpool star contrasted Isak's reluctance with Conor Bradley's memorable tackle on Kylian Mbappe, emphasising how such moments can endear players to the fanbase.
With pressure mounting on the 26-year-old striker, McAteer's comments highlight the urgent need for Isak to adapt to Liverpool's demands and justify his record-breaking price tag sooner rather than later.
