Liverpool's Swedish striker #09 Alexander Isak (C) celebrates scoring the opening goal during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on April 25, 2026. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /

AFP via Getty Images

When Liverpool signed Alexander Isak as the Premier League’s most expensive player in August, few would have doubted he’d score against Crystal Palace at Anfield near season’s end.​

What has come as a surprise to almost everyone is that the Swedish striker’s April goal against the South Londoners is his first league goal of the season and, rather than challenging for the title, it serves only to aid the Reds in their bid to confirm fifth place in the table.

This stemmed from a disastrous run of injuries, essentially making Isak’s first campaign at Liverpool a write-off. Limited game time, not individual failings, explains his lack of impact.

After the match, Isak admitted he still had some way to go before returning to top form, even after his first goal.

“I’ve been battling getting back to full fitness and obviously scoring a goal is probably the best way to finding your form again. Obviously, I’m really happy,” he said.

His captain, Virgil Van Dijk, echoed the sentiment, both praising the Swedish forward and demanding more from him.

“It is important for Alex to get goals as a striker and it was a great goal,” the defender added.

“In terms of what I’ve seen of him, everyone knows and sees and experiences as teammates how outstanding he is.

“It is about getting games, confidence but obviously scoring goals as a striker – that’s the main trigger for him. I’m not worried at all about him whatsoever.

“We want more than goals from him and that’s what he can bring and he just has to keep going and keep working, keep staying fit and keep staying important for the football club because I think he will and he already is.”

He, too, acknowledged that this was not quite what Liverpool had in mind when it parted with $170 million in the summer.

“It is quite an understatement to say he’s had a tough year,” he said. “The injuries he had and the timing of it has been bad.

“But now he is fit and we all know what he can bring and he shows it in training and in games as well.”

Fellow new signing Florian Wirtz was also on the scoresheet against Palace, an occurrence that offered some glimpse of what Liverpool envisioned when they signed the two players in the summer.

“That was always the plan,” added Van Dijk

“These two particular players have been brought to the club to make an impact and it’s not been an easy season for anyone, including those two, but you see the quality they have.”

Isak and Wirtz are easy scapegoats for those blaming Liverpool’s disappointing season.

But Liverpool’s underlying problems this season do not rest on Isak’s absence or Wirtz’s impact. The real issues that have derailed the campaign lie elsewhere.

Hugo Ekitike, who led the line instead of the Swedish striker, was among the Reds’ best.

Wirtz has shown flashes of brilliance when Liverpool has played well as a team.

From the start, coach Arne Slot has struggled to find balance in the team.

Defensive vulnerabilities have plagued the Reds all season, leading to costly late collapses.

Some argue the team’s imbalance comes from spending on the wrong areas.

Reasonable questions remain whether Isak was needed after acquiring Ekitike. Perhaps signing someone to provide Luiz Diaz’s dynamism after his sale to Bayern Munich would have made more sense.

One thing is clear: next season, much will be expected of Isak. But this year’s struggles have roots that go far beyond a single player’s fitness.

Though some describe Isak as a disastrous signing, this verdict overlooks the fitness issues behind his limited impact—and mislocates the reasons for Liverpool’s struggles.

Even so, former Reds defender Jamie Carragher issued a warning for Isak when speaking to local paper the Liverpool Echo.

“[The big-spending summer] hasn’t worked,” he said.

“It might work in the future because I don’t think you can judge every signing in the first year.

“But I’ve said this before; my experience as a Liverpool player, every player who came to the club, I can’t remember one who didn’t really do much in his first season, and then was a revelation afterwards.

“Isak hasn’t got going. He obviously got the injury, but he didn’t look great to start with.”

Liverpool fans hope that next year, with a fresh start, will bring change.