Some 236 days after Alexander Isak signed for Liverpool, the moment finally arrived.
Latching on to Alexis Mac Allister’s wayward strike, his control was impressive and he clinically dispatched a left-footed shot beyond the grasp of Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson to break the deadlock.
As Anfield erupted in celebration, Isak raced over to the touchline where substitute Jeremie Frimpong was waiting with his arms outstretched to embrace him.
It’s been a long time coming but the most expensive player in the history of British football belatedly has his first Premier League goal for Liverpool at Anfield.
The fact that it’s taken until the back end of April underlines what a torrid campaign it’s been for the £125million Swedish striker.
“Did anyone ever think we would say this eight or nine months ago?” head coach Arne Slot asked rhetorically following a hard-fought 3-1 victory which lifted Liverpool above Aston Villa into fourth in their pursuit of Champions League qualification.
“That Alexander Isak just scored his first (Premier League) goal for Liverpool at Anfield. That sums up this season a lot that such an unbelievable striker has had such a tough time with injuries and not being available to play. But it is really nice he scored.
“When we signed him, we knew he could score goals and that’s what he showed today. Many times this season we’ve had better chances than we had today. That is why it is important to have players who can score goals like this because it can give you a big lift in a game. That’s what we have missed when he wasn’t available or when he was available but wasn’t at the level he can be.”
Alexander Isak scored Liverpool’s opening goal against Crystal Palace (Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images)
Rewind to September 1, 2025 when Isak penned a six-year contract after completing a move from Newcastle United following a summer-long saga, his arrival was viewed as a statement of serious ambition.
It was the most extravagant purchase at the end of the biggest spending spree in Liverpool’s history. Isak talked about his desire to “create history” and “take my game to the next level”.
Unlike many of the other new arrivals, he was Premier League proven having scored 44 top-flight goals across the two previous seasons and was approaching his peak years. Having taken the No 9 shirt from the erratic Darwin Nunez, who had been sold to Saudi Pro League outfit Al Hilal, the upgrade was supposed to be vast.
However, Isak also lacked fitness having missed most of pre-season as he effectively went on strike to try to force the transfer. Getting him up to speed proved harder than anyone at Liverpool envisaged with a groin problem hampering his progress.
Just when there were some signs of promise, the 26-year-old forward suffered a broken fibula in December after scoring against Tottenham Hotspur.
Nearly four months out followed before he made his comeback off the bench against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League earlier this month. The crushing blow of losing 17-goal top scorer Hugo Ekitike to a ruptured Achilles tendon served to further crank up the pressure on Isak to start repaying that hefty transfer fee.
“For sure, it was a big moment,” Isak told LFCTV. “I’ve been battling to get back to full fitness. Scoring a goal is the best way to find my form again and I’m really happy.
“I felt like the shot (from Mac Allister) wasn’t going in so I intercepted it. It became a good touch and I managed to put it in the back of the net.
“Crystal Palace is one of the most difficult teams to create chances and score goals against. We showed we have the quality and we need to keep this form.”
Alexander Isak suffered a broken fibula in December (Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Context is important. Isak still hasn’t completed 90 minutes in a game since joining Liverpool and his goal against Palace came from his only attempt. There are still issues Slot needs to resolve in terms of the service Isak receives and creating a better understanding with the players around him.
However, getting the best out of Isak remains absolutely pivotal to Slot’s mission to revive his Anfield reign. When the Dutchman talks about the future being bright, it relies heavily on his two most expensive signings fulfilling their rich potential.
Florian Wirtz, who could end up costing Liverpool £116million, has fared considerably better than Isak since arriving from Bayer Leverkusen last summer. But the gifted Germany international has still struggled to live up to his billing.
Like Isak, there are mitigating factors. In Wirtz’s case, he’s a 22-year-old living outside his homeland for the first time. He’s been trying to make his mark in a malfunctioning team. The pace and physicality of the Premier League have also been a shock, with Liverpool putting him on an extensive gym programme to ensure he bulked up.
Saturday was the first time Isak and Wirtz have started three successive matches together. It was also the first time they have both scored in the same game.
Wirtz was influential in Liverpool’s blistering counter attack for their second goal against Palace as he picked out the run of Curtis Jones, who provided the assist for Andy Robertson. Deep into stoppage time, he ensured that the controversy over Daniel Munoz reducing the deficit, when goalkeeper Freddie Woodman was down injured, was relegated to a footnote.
Mac Allister’s lay-off was inviting and Wirtz provided an emphatic finish for his first goal since January’s 4-1 win over Newcastle United. He now boasts seven goals and eight assists in 46 appearances (39 starts) in all competitions. He’s capable of much more.
Woodman was deservedly serenaded by the Kop after the final whistle in recognition of his heroics on his full league debut for the club. There was also concern for Mohamed Salah, who may have played his last game for the club due to a hamstring injury.
With Salah waving goodbye and Federico Chiesa also expected to leave at the end of the season, Liverpool’s attacking department is braced for another overhaul this summer. Ekitike’s absence for at least six months must also be factored into the club’s transfer plans.
But whoever arrives will be bought to complement Isak and Wirtz. They remain the crown jewels that this new-look team will be built around.
