Arsene Wenger believes that Alexander Isak needs to be given more time at Liverpool before being judged.
The transfer of the Sweden international from Newcastle was one of the most talked-about moves of the summer window, with nobody expecting Liverpool to actually pull it off.
That is, especially after they’d just signed Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike for a combined fee worth over £180million.
However, Arne Slot and Richard Hughes proved everyone wrong, with most fans, pundits, and journalists thinking they’d be untouchable with the amount of attacking talent they’d added to their ranks.
Sadly, things haven’t gone quite to plan with both Isak and Wirtz failing to perform to their expected standards, which has raised questions about whether they were even worth buying in the first place.
Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has shared his thoughts on the first of the two players and said what he thinks needs to happen with the number nine.
Arsene Wenger believes Alexander Isak needs more time at Liverpool before he’s judged
As mentioned, Isak’s start to life at Liverpool has been far from ideal.
The fact that he chose to go on strike for the entirety of Newcastle’s pre-season meant that he’s only just got fully fit, which has hindered his start to the campaign.
There have been times when the Sweden international has shown glimpses of his quality, but unless he finds the form he showed last term, his signing may end up being frowned upon.
However, while speaking on beIN Sports, Wenger said that it still feels too early to judge how good players such as Isak and Wirtz will be for Liverpool.
“Sometimes you have to give them time. Isak has the talent, Wirtz has the talent. But, at the moment, they have not reached the level,” he said.
“I would say as well, they have to go through a period where they have to do what the team needs, show total commitment and then the confidence comes back.”
Liverpool need to start seeing more from Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz
Although many changes have been made at Anfield this summer, you’d have expected to start seeing some more positive performances from the players.
However, now that Liverpool have lost four games on the bounce, even more questions are being asked about whether too much was changed too quickly.
In theory, all of Slot’s summer signings should have made the Reds’ first-team squad better, but with the football they’ve been playing and the fact they’re sitting fourth in the Premier League table, it feels like things are actually worse.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 1 |  ArsenalArsenal | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 3 | 12 | 19 |
| 2 |  Manchester CityManchester City | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 17 | 6 | 11 | 16 |
| 3 |  LiverpoolLiverpool | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 11 | 3 | 15 |
| 4 |  BournemouthBournemouth | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 14 | 11 | 3 | 15 |
| 5 |  ChelseaChelsea | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 9 | 7 | 14 |
| 6 |  TottenhamTottenham | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
If players such as Isak and Wirtz don’t start showing what they’re capable of soon, they’ll end up losing their place in Liverpool’s starting XI and end up at the back of the pecking order.
But, if the Reds want to win the Premier League and even the Champions League, something needs to change soon, and the only way for that to happen is if all of Slot’s men perform to the standards expected of them.
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox
