Alexander Isak's goal-scoring run continues as Andoni Iraola praises his teamwork
Alexander Isak's match-clinching strike at Crystal Palace has largely flown under the radar, but it underlines how perception of the forward has changed. Isak scoring is increasingly accepted as part of a positive occasion for the Reds, with his neat finish already his latest in a series of Premier League games this season. That output matches his best start to a top-flight campaign in England, having previously achieved the feat with Newcastle United, but he has managed it in a shorter amount of time this term, doing it in fewer appearances.
Isak's goal was his fourth consecutive away league game in which he has scored, the first Liverpool player to achieve such a feat since Mohamed Salah. Intriguingly, it was only the second of the seven games in which he has scored in all competitions where he has not netted either an equaliser or a winner, with his goals usually mattering in changing the state and flow of a game. Isak 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.
Reds boss Andoni Iraola praised Isak's off-the-ball work after the Palace game, highlighting his movement for Florian Wirtz's goal. "He attacks very well the first post, he leaves the space in behind for Florian to arrive, good play from Bradley," Iraola said. "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."
Wirtz's assist for Isak at Palace was his first since the pass that invited the Swede to score at Tottenham Hotspur last December, while Cody Gakpo and Bradley Barcola have also provided multiple assists for the forward this season. Iraola will be hoping Isak successfully negotiates his country's forthcoming UEFA Nations League games against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Poland, with the blockbusting visit of Manchester United looming when the Premier League resumes.