Sweden striker Alexander Isak's £125m transfer saga and injury-hit season cost Liverpool and Newcastle dearly in 2025-26.
Alexander Isak's Instagram message, 'Looking forward to a much better next season,' carried extra weight after a troubled first year at Liverpool. His standout goal for Sweden in a 3-1 friendly loss to Norway showed signs of recovery for the 26-year-old. Isak dribbled past defenders inside the Norway half, used stepovers to switch the ball to his right foot, and curled a delicate shot into the top corner. This performance contrasted sharply with his difficult debut campaign at Anfield following a £125m move from Newcastle United in September.
Liverpool's summer 2025 transfer spending spree, which included Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong, and Milos Kerkez, failed to translate into success. Arne Slot's dismissal at the end of the 2025-26 season highlighted the club's underwhelming title defense. Despite dominating the transfer window, Liverpool finished fifth, 25 points behind champions Arsenal. Isak endured his worst scoring season since 2017-18, scoring just four goals in 22 appearances, with only 13 as a starter.
Alexander Isak's Liverpool campaign was plagued by injuries and limited playtime. He suffered a fractured ankle and fibula in December, missing four months of action. By season's end, Liverpool avoided risking him even for minor issues. Club insiders believe 2025-26 was an anomaly for Isak, who played just 21% of available Premier League minutes. His Champions League performance against Paris St-Germain saw him manage only five touches in 45 minutes.
Newcastle United's decision to sell Alexander Isak for £125m, after initially resisting, left a void in their attack. The striker had scored 62 goals in 109 games since joining from Real Sociedad in 2022. Eddie Howe admitted Isak was irreplaceable, calling him 'no other player like him in world football.' Newcastle finished 12th in the Premier League, struggling with a reduced big chance conversion rate from 41.1% to 34.4%.
Alexander Isak's contributions were pivotal for Newcastle in previous seasons, including a vital goal in the 2025 League Cup final against Liverpool. In 2024-25, he scored 18 goals from 36 big chances, helping Newcastle secure a top-four finish and Champions League qualification. His absence in 2025-26 coincided with a sharp decline in converting big chances, dropping from 41.1% to 34.4%. Newcastle threw away 27 points from winning positions, struggling to build or respond to leads.
Newcastle's post-Isak rebuild proved difficult despite signing replacements like Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa. Eddie Howe emphasized the challenge of replacing Isak quickly, stating, 'Losing Alex was going to be very difficult for us to find a new team.' He added, 'I don't think you can ever look at one moment, look for excuses or look to blame anything or anyone. It was just the situation that it was and we had to try and make the best of that moment.'
Alexander Isak's recent goal for Sweden against Norway provided a glimmer of optimism for Liverpool fans. The 26-year-old's performance showed he remains in top form despite his club struggles. His dribbling, stepovers, and curling finish into the top corner were reminiscent of his best days. This display suggested a possible resurgence for Isak ahead of the World Cup and the next season.