Liverpool concluded a record-breaking transfer window, spending approximately 450 million USD on four new players: Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, and Hugo Ekitike, before securing Isak. The arrival of a top-class striker like Isak has undoubtedly put their rivals on alert.

In the past two Premier League seasons, Isak has scored 44 goals, trailing only Mohamed Salah (47) and Erling Haaland (49). The Swedish forward played six fewer matches than Salah but scored only three fewer goals.

Top Premier League goalscorers in the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 seasons. Photo: Premier League

Top Premier League goalscorers in the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 seasons. Photo: Premier League

Isak is renowned for his clinical finishing, scoring from difficult situations with a non-penalty goal conversion rate of 26.4% from 95 shots. This statistic surpasses both Haaland (21.6%) and Salah (21.1%), and is only lower than four other players in the league.

Isak also consistently performs in big games, having scored against Arsenal, Chelsea, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, and even Liverpool – all of the top seven teams from last season except Man City.

Liverpool's transfer window was marred by their failure to sign center-back Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace. This leaves them with only two key center-backs, Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk, until at least 1/2026. Backup options include Joe Gomez, 18-year-old newcomer Giovanni Leoni, and Ryan Gravenberch playing out of position.

Bournemouth exploiting the space behind Liverpool's defense in the Premier League opening match. Photo: Premier League

Bournemouth exploiting the space behind Liverpool's defense in the Premier League opening match. Photo: Premier League

This vulnerability was evident in the first two matches against Bournemouth and Newcastle. Liverpool conceded two goals from swift counter-attacks, the most in the league at that point. Their attack-minded approach, with Florian Wirtz frequently pushing forward in an attacking midfield role, leaves their midfield susceptible to exploitation.

Compared to the 2024-2025 season, Liverpool's midfield defensive capabilities have noticeably declined in the first three rounds of the 2025-2026 Premier League season. Their average tackles per 90 minutes have dropped from 16.9 to 13.3, indicating a decrease in their intensity. More alarmingly, interceptions have plummeted from 7.9 to 3.7 – a decrease of over 50%, reflecting a less effective midfield press and allowing opponents to break through easily.

Newcastle counter-attacking while Szoboszlai and Wirtz are pushed high up the pitch during the match against Liverpool in the second round of the Premier League. Photo: Premier League

Newcastle counter-attacking while Szoboszlai and Wirtz are pushed high up the pitch during the match against Liverpool in the second round of the Premier League. Photo: Premier League

Even fouls, which can disrupt counter-attacks, have decreased from 11.3 to 9.7 per game. These figures suggest a lack of mobility and control in Liverpool's midfield, contributing to their vulnerability to counter-attacks.

Another concern lies with the full-backs. In previous seasons, Trent Alexander-Arnold often tucked into midfield to support the press, but now Jeremie Frimpong consistently pushes high, leaving Liverpool exposed. On the left, newcomer Kerkez is still adapting, as demonstrated by Bruno Guimaraes easily bypassing him for Newcastle's opening goal. Kerkez has also contributed to Liverpool facing significantly more crosses than last season.

Alexander Isak's Liverpool debut on 1/9. Photo: Liverpool FC

Alexander Isak's Liverpool debut on 1/9. Photo: Liverpool FC

However, Isak could solve Liverpool's defensive issues in the simplest way: by outscoring the opposition. In reality, the defensive concerns may be somewhat exaggerated. Arne Slot's team has won all three matches, including a clean sheet against Arsenal, suggesting that the process of finding balance is progressing.

Even with an imperfect defense, having Isak alongside Salah, Wirtz, and Ekitike makes Liverpool a formidable attacking force for any defense.

The question is how Slot will arrange this attacking quartet. While at Newcastle, Isak played approximately 24% of his minutes on the left wing, but it's unlikely he'll be pushed into this less comfortable position.

Ekitike, who has only played on the left wing nine times at a professional level, could be tried there or moved back into an attacking midfield role, similar to his partnership with Omar Marmoush at Frankfurt. Slot himself confirmed, "I see Ekitike primarily as a number 9, but he can also play on the left or alongside another number 9".

Heatmap of Hugo Ekitike's open-play touches at Eintracht Frankfurt in the 2024-2025 Bundesliga season. Photo: Opta

Heatmap of Hugo Ekitike's open-play touches at Eintracht Frankfurt in the 2024-2025 Bundesliga season. Photo: Opta

Another option is to keep Cody Gakpo on the left, with Ekitike as a versatile backup. Last season, Slot frequently rotated his attack: Luis Diaz (28 starts), Gakpo (23), Diogo Jota (14), and Darwin Nunez (8) all competed for two starting spots alongside Salah. This season, with the arrival of Isak and Ekitike, the rotation will likely continue, especially with Salah's absence for about a month for the Africa Cup of Nations, which runs from 21/12/2025 to 18/1/2026.

"This ensures Liverpool has impressive depth, maintaining a fresh attack and the ability to change the game from the bench," Alex Keble commented on the Premier League's official website. "Of course, adding Isak doesn't guarantee a title, but combined with efforts to rebalance the midfield and defense, plus an attack superior to the rest, Liverpool has a solid foundation to defend their title."

Hong Duy (via Premier League)