Alexander Isak is preparing for his first return to St James’ Park after a challenging season at Liverpool, where a £125m purchase saw him limited to 22 appearances and four goals, three of which came in the Premier League. The Swede’s move to the Reds in 2023 was a record fee for a Swedish striker, but injuries and a lack of pre-season preparation meant he never reached the impact expected.
Isak’s departure from Newcastle in 2023 was a costly decision for the Magpies. The club spent the record proceeds on Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa, while the former Newcastle striker struggled to find form at Liverpool. In contrast, Isak’s last two seasons at Newcastle were prolific, with 21 and 23 Premier League goals respectively, making him the club’s top scorer in each campaign.
Now, under new manager Andoni Iraola, Newcastle aims to give the Swede a fresh start. Iraola, who has taken over from Eddie Howe, emphasises a clean-slate approach, stating: “I want to start with a clean slate rather than trying to solve the things that didn’t work last season.” He also stresses the importance of availability, noting that “without availability we cannot have the second thing which is the performance level.”
Iraola’s tactical philosophy suits Isak’s versatility. The striker can “come to receive and be technically very clean, and he can also be very good attacking the space,” Iraola said. He believes Isak can link up play and also exploit spaces, a dual quality that could fit well into a system that prioritises pressing and positional play.
Liverpool’s new manager, Matthias Jaissle, also faces the task of revitalising Isak’s career. The Swede’s pre-season form was promising, but the lack of a full pre-season and injuries meant he never fully settled. Jaissle’s focus will be on keeping Isak fit and in a good mental state, hoping the second season will be a stark contrast to the first.
The return to Newcastle will be a hostile one, given the memories of the 2023 summer saga. Yet, with Iraola’s emphasis on openness and a willingness to improve, the club hopes to harness Isak’s talent. If he can replicate the goal tallies of his previous seasons, Newcastle could regain the attacking threat they lost, while Liverpool might finally see the return of the striker’s potential.
The match at St James’ Park will be the first test of whether a clean-slate approach can unlock Isak’s form and whether the Swede can once again become the focal point of Newcastle’s attack.
