Central to Liverpool’s hopes is Swedish striker Alexander Isak, who is under pressure to deliver a consistent goal return after an injury-plagued debut season at Anfield. With Hugo Ekitike currently sidelined following Achilles surgery, Isak is the only senior centre-forward available to Iraola. The manager is focused on evolving Isak’s game beyond just finishing, wanting the former Newcastle man to become a more complete focal point for the team’s attacking patterns.
Iraola is clearly encouraged by the striker’s fitness, noting: “Alex is going to be a very important player for us this season. Right now he is in a very good place; he has been training every day, he has not missed a session, he has been adding more and more minutes every friendly game.”
With Arsenal already setting a relentless pace, Iraola will be desperate for his star man to hit the ground running and spearhead this new era on Merseyside, which officially gets under way with a tantalising opening-weekend trip to Isak’s former club, Newcastle United.
