The wait for the Alexander Isak Liverpool debut is over, and it came as a surprise to many. Instead of coming off the bench, manager Arne Slot chose to start his record-signing in the big Champions League match against Atlético Madrid.
Isak became just the second Swede to represent Liverpool on Wednesday night.
In the first few minutes, Isak was quiet while Mohamed Salah stole the show. Salah was at the heart of an early attack that put Liverpool 2-0 up within six minutes. As he settled into his new team, Isak did not see much of the ball.
But as the first half went on, Isak became more involved in the game. He liked to move to the left side of the field. From there, his clever turns helped him create two shots for himself. One of his shots tested the Atlético goalkeeper, Jan Oblak.
Those chances seemed to boost Isak’s confidence. He started making smart passes that helped Liverpool’s attacks. It also looks like he will work well with Florian Wirtz, another new signing who has shown moments of magic.
Overall, Isak’s performance was very tidy and professional. He did not look like a player who lacked match fitness and played for 55 minutes before Slot took him off with the team leading 2-1.
The chaos of the match happened after Isak was off the pitch, but a late goal from Virgil van Dijk meant the Isak era at Liverpool started with a win. His solid and efficient performance suggests he is ready for the tough challenge of the upcoming Merseyside derby against Everton.