'Handled it wrong' - Alexander Isak 'paying consequences' for downing tools to force £125m Liverpool transfer

Isak

Alexander Isak is struggling to adapt to Liverpool because of how his British-record move was engineered, according to former Newcastle United star Chris Waddle.

And ex-England winger Waddle believes the £125m striker is "paying the consequences" of how his acrimonious switch to Anfield was carried out across the course of the summer window, before his eventual move on transfer deadline day.

After Liverpool made their move, Isak refused to travel on Newcastle's tour of the Far East in July, citing an injury, before he returned to training using the facilities of former club Real Sociedad.

A public statement, released via his Instagram account in August, then bemoaned broken promises about a move away from Tyneside and manager Eddie Howe banished him from the first-team setup.

Liverpool eventually completed a deal worth £125m on September 1 after reopening negotiations with Newcastle following an initial rejection at the start of August and having not had the benefit of a pre-season schedule with the Magpies, Isak is yet to take flight for the Premier League champions.

Isak scored in the third-round Carabao Cup tie victory over Southampton last month but picked up a groin injury in the 5-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions Leaguelast week and Waddle thinks this is the knock-on effect of a disrupted summer period.

Waddle

“Fans are critical, and there's a lot of criticism flying around because Alexander Isak is not performing,"

"You have to realise, he handled it all wrong at Newcastle. He said he wanted to leave, refused to train, and went to Real Sociedad to train basically on his own.

"He didn't play any friendlies, then went to Liverpool and suddenly he's in the Premier League which is a hard and physical league, mentally as well.

“He hasn't hit the ground running at all. He's probably two or three weeks behind most players. We know he's a talented footballer and he will probably come good.

“I'm not saying he won't, but he handled it all wrong and he's paying the consequences now for being behind.”

“He hasn't done well with Sweden either. Sweden never qualify for the World Cup despite some of the players they have, and they are bottom of their group. It's just unbelievable."

Waddle, added: “But listen, the longer it goes without him scoring and playing well, his confidence will be sapped. We've seen this with Florian Wirtz, a young, very talented player who is unfortunately now on the bench

“So it's going to take Isak time to settle. He needs to start scoring goals, but he has to work on his fitness and sharpness.

“The only way he's going to get that is by playing games.

“But if he's not scoring the manager will be tempted to leave him on the bench and bring him on for half an hour, which he probably never anticipated would happen to him.

“So, yes, I think he's a bit of a concern, but he will come good because he's done it before.”

Liverpool return to action when they entertain Crystal Palace in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night.

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