Match Coverage

Alexander Isak did something ‘never seen before’ during half-time after scoring first Liverpool goal

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Alexander Isak is off and running at Liverpool after scoring his first goal against Southampton on Tuesday.

Having joined the Reds for a British record fee on transfer deadline day, all eyes have been on Isak in his opening weeks at the club.

The Swede had virtually no pre-season before leaving Newcastle and is still getting up to speed with his new teammates.

As a result, Isak‘s early performances have been slightly disjointed, with rival fans rejoicing in a slow start from Liverpool‘s new No. 9.

Thankfully, they can rejoice no more. Isak slotted home a typically clinical finish after being played in by Federico Chiesa against the Saints.

With his goal coming in the 43rd minute, it was one of Isak’s final involvements in the game, as Arne Slot chose to replace him at the break. But while he was preparing to come off, pundits including former Liverpool defender Glen Johnson spotted the striker doing something ‘bizarre.’

Alexander Isak celebrates after scoring for Liverpool against Southampton in the EFL Cup at Anfield.
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images

Alexander Isak performs half-time warm-down

Having seen him bury a good first goal for the club, Liverpool fans will have been hoping to see Isak come back out for the second-half.

But that looked unlikely after the 26-year-old did not join his teammates in going down the tunnel towards the changing rooms.

READ MORE: Liverpool fans give early verdict on Giovanni Leoni after watching debut against Southampton

Instead, Isak performed some jogging exercises on the Anfield pitch, much to the bemusement of ITV pundits Mark Pougatch, Francis Benali and Johnson.

“Alexander Isak scored the only goal of the half, but he hasn’t gone down the tunnel with the rest of his teammates, he’s spent half-time doing this,” said Pougatch, as cameras followed Isak jogging from touchline to touchline.

“Fran, Glen, we’ve never seen anything like it. How do you interpret this?

“I’m not sure I can,” replied Johnson. “We’ve never seen it before.”

“I find it bizarre,” Benali chimed in. “It’s probably the physio, not Arne Slot who’s told him. If he’s coming off, surely the management have had some sort of conversation, but to run him at half-time, it seems bizarre. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Will Isak play again on Saturday?

Liverpool are clearly being as careful as possible as they manage Isak’s minutes.

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The Sweden international will have been much happier going off at half-time having got his goal, but supporters will still want to see him more.

Their next opportunity to do so will be on Saturday afternoon, as Liverpool take on Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

After playing only 45 minutes against Southampton, there will be a chance for Isak to start against an in-form Palace side.

While Slot may have preferred his No. 9 to play from the bench instead, Hugo Ekitike’s late red card against Saints will likely mean Isak makes his first consecutive starts for Liverpool.