Isak scores in four straight away games as Liverpool's £125m striker silences early doubters

Alexander Isak’s composed finish at Selhurst Park on Saturday was almost an afterthought in Liverpool’s 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace — and that, in itself, tells the story of how far the £125 million striker has come since a difficult start to life at the club.

The goal was Isak’s seventh in nine Premier League appearances this season, matching the best start to a top-flight campaign he has managed in England. He previously hit that mark during the 2023/24 season with Newcastle United, eventually finishing with 21 league goals — but it took him until his 13th game that year. This time around he has reached seven in just 10 appearances, having missed only one Premier League fixture: the 3-0 home defeat to Manchester City.

The Palace strike also made Isak the first Liverpool player to score in four consecutive away league games since Mohamed Salah, a milestone that underlines how central he has become to Andoni Iraola’s attacking plans.

Perhaps more telling is the nature of his contributions. Six of his seven goals in all competitions have either equalised or put Liverpool ahead, meaning his strikes routinely shift the momentum of matches rather than merely adding gloss to comfortable wins.

Isak now has eight goals for the campaign overall — already double the total he managed across an injury-disrupted debut season. The conversation has moved on from whether he can justify his fee to how Liverpool can best supply him, and there are encouraging signs on that front too.

Florian Wirtz provided the assist at Palace, his first since setting up Isak’s goal at Tottenham Hotspur last December before suffering a broken leg. Cody Gakpo has now created four goals for the Swede this season, while Bradley Barcola has contributed two further assists.

The timing of Isak’s resurgence matters. Liverpool face Manchester United when the Premier League resumes later this month, and Iraola will be watching closely as the 27-year-old joins Sweden for UEFA Nations League fixtures against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Poland — a concern given that a thigh injury picked up on international duty earlier this season cost him two club games.