Alexander Isak had a great introduction to life at Liverpool with his first appearance under the Anfield lights.
A Champions League game for your first introduction to the Anfield crowd is a great way of breaking the ice in your career on Merseyside, especially in a dramatic game against Atletico Madrid.
The Reds sealed a 3-2 victory in the dying minutes of the game when Virgil van Dijk scored a header from a corner in the 96th minute to give them their first win in the league phase this season.
It was a night that saw the first glimpse of what the 25-year-old striker could do in a red shirt, with the Swedish striker able to play 60 minutes of football, which Arne Slot was pleased to see.
The Champions League is the best introduction to Liverpool life for Alexander Isak
He was not able to get on the scoresheet, but from what he displayed on the pitch, there is clearly a lot to like about his style of play, going wide at times, drawing defenders out of position and creating space for his team-mates to come into.
While he is not expected to start against Everton in the Merseyside derby, there is an expectation that he will make another appearance for the side, which will hopefully make a big impact.
The European nights, though, are where players like the Swedish international can really shine because of the different pace of the game and it being on the biggest stage against the best teams.
READ MORE: Arne Slot admits something really surprised him about Alexander Isak’s Liverpool debut
ESPN pundit Jan Aage Fjortoft believes that it was exactly what Isak needed to begin his Liverpool career, having played at the ground during his career.
During an ESPN FC debrief, Fjortoft explained why it could not have been a better way to make a first appearance at the hallowed stadium.
He said: “It was an introduction. I think that Arne Slot knows how he is going to use him. He didn’t take him on the bus to Burnley. He kept him away there, let him start in the Champions League under the flood lights we’re talking about at Anfield. This is a fantastic signing, and sometimes in 2025, we do assessments after it was five minutes that Wirtz was in England before we said he would be failing.
“So I think this is a perfect introduction for him. The good news for Liverpool is they have the time to do that because you have Ekitike, you can do that because he’s been doing well, so Isak can slowly get into his game, and I think it was very important for him today to get that feeling to get that Anfield feeling.
“I’ve had the pleasure of playing at Anfield. It’s very, very special. I can just imagine being a Liverpool player walking out there with a sign over the door going out to that fantastic stadium and getting that feeling.”
Jan Aage Fjortoft believes Arne Slot has one ‘luxury’ with his Liverpool squad
He believes that the signing of the striker is going to be ‘fantastic’ for the side, and it will produce a lot of goals for a team that may need some more, considering they have lost a few leads so far.
There is another boost, which Fjortoft explains, that gives Slot more to work with.
“So that is a luxury that Arne Slot has. He can let them play. He can also keep Wirtz in there to find his way as long as he can because he has alternatives,” he said.
“He can put Robertson in when Kerkez has been a bit hopped in his head if that is the expression I’m looking for.”
Everton, in the next Premier League fixture, is a tough one to show your skills in, but it will be a test once again of mentality and heart.
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