It has been a long road back for Alexander Isak. However, the light at the end of the tunnel is finally starting to flicker for Liverpool’s £125 million man.
Alexander Isak hasn’t stepped onto the pitch in a Liverpool kit since December’s polarising trip to Tottenham. While he scored that afternoon, Micky van de Ven’s bruising challenge sent him back from the capital with a fractured fibula. His absence has left a gaping hole at the point of the Liverpool attack.
When Isak arrived at Anfield for a record fee last summer, he carried the mantle of the “final evolution” in Arne Slot’s system. To date, however, his stint on the treatment table has overshadowed his impact in the final third.
On Friday, however, the club provided the update supporters have been desperate for. Naturally, fans of Alexander Isak will be watching closely.
New images released via the club’s official channels show the No. 9 back on the grass. Or at least the indoor variety at the AXA Training Centre.
Isak took to the grass for jogging and in the most encouraging sign yet engaged in light ball work. This progress signals a new phase in his recovery. Considering he went under the knife only two months ago, the sight of him striking the ball with his injured left leg marks a significant breakthrough in his journey back to the first team.
Arne Slot has been careful not to overpromise. He previously labelled the injury a “big, big disappointment,” and while the FA Cup tie against Brighton comes too soon, the momentum is clearly shifting for a hopeful return by Isak.
The sight of Isak moving freely during individual drills is more than just a fitness update. It’s a vital sign of life for a Liverpool attack that has often looked stretched thin, especially without the Swede international in the squad.
With Cody Gakpo favoured on the left and Federico Chiesa still adjusting to the physical demands of the Premier League, the absence of a natural, line-stretching No. 9 has been glaring. Indeed, supporters hope that Alexander Isak can fill this crucial role soon.
With Liverpool sitting sixth and the Champions League knockout stages looming, Slot’s decision to keep Isak in the European squad over the likes of Calvin Ramsay looks more calculated by the day. This is particularly true given Isak’s reputation.
The “rolls-royce” striker may have had a stop-start beginning to his Anfield career. However, as the business end of the season approaches, his return could be the ultimate shot in the arm for a side still hunting a top-four finish.
