‘I Don’t Really Have an Answer’ – Alexander Isak Speaks Out on Liverpool Struggles After Controversial £125m Transfer from Newcastle

Alexander Isak Admits Uncertainty as Liverpool Struggles Continue Following £125m Move from Newcastle

When Liverpool agreed to pay an eye-watering £125 million to prise Alexander Isak away from Newcastle United, few transfers in Premier League history carried such weight. This was not just a statement signing; it was a declaration of intent. Liverpool were not simply reinforcing a title-winning squad — they were attempting to shape the next era around a striker expected to deliver goals, identity and leadership.

Months on, reality has been far less glamorous. Liverpool sit uncomfortably in ninth place. Isak has just two goals from 15 appearances. And now, in refreshingly honest fashion, the Swedish forward has admitted what many suspected but few expected him to say so openly: even he does not fully understand why it has not clicked.

“I don’t really have the answer,” Isak confessed. In modern football, where players are often media-trained to the point of emptiness, such an admission stands out.

A Record Transfer That Has Yet to Deliver

Liverpool’s return to the summit of English football last season triggered a dramatic change in approach at Anfield. Rather than cautiously reinforcing a successful group, the club went all in. Arne Slot was handed a transfer budget designed not just to defend the title, but to build a dynasty.

First came Florian Wirtz, briefly the most expensive signing in British football history. Then came the real shock. Newcastle, long resistant to selling their talisman, finally relented as Liverpool put £125m on the table for Isak. It was a fee that raised eyebrows across the league, particularly given Newcastle’s reluctance and Isak’s injury history.

At the time, the logic seemed clear. Isak had pace, elegance, Premier League experience and the versatility to lead the line or drift wide. He looked like a perfect fit for a fluid, attacking Liverpool side.

Instead, the opening half of the season has been disjointed. Liverpool have struggled for rhythm, balance and consistency. Isak, far from being the focal point, has often looked isolated, short of confidence and physically behind the pace.

‘I Don’t Really Have an Answer’: Isak Opens Up

In an interview with Sportbladet, Isak spoke with unusual candour about his struggles. There was no finger-pointing, no excuses — just an honest assessment of a difficult period.

“No, I don’t think so. I don’t really have the answer to that,” he said when asked to explain what has gone wrong. “The team-wise thing – it’s clear that it’s been slow, but that’s how it is in football.”

His words reflect a player trying to make sense of a situation that has spiralled beyond simple explanations. Tactical changes, new teammates, injuries and pressure have all blended into a season that never quite found momentum.

“There are always teams that are flying, and then it’s slower for others,” Isak continued. “It’s about turning that around. And for me too… it’s not the first time in my career that I’ve gone through a period like this.”

Liverpool’s Problems Go Beyond One Player

Liverpool v Sunderland – Premier League

While Isak has become the symbol of Liverpool’s struggles, he is far from the only issue. Arne Slot’s first full season has brought sweeping tactical adjustments. Roles have shifted. Pressing structures have changed. Familiar automatisms have disappeared.

For a squad that thrived on rhythm and understanding under previous regimes, the adaptation has been bumpy. Injuries have further disrupted continuity, forcing Slot into constant rotation.

Isak acknowledges that instant chemistry was never guaranteed.

“That’s always what you hope for, that everything will just flow,” he said. “But not everything goes as planned, and then you have to take it as it comes.”

That realism, however, does little to quiet the noise surrounding a £125m striker who has yet to impose himself.

Living With the Weight of a Price Tag

Few players escape the shadow of a record transfer fee. Every missed chance is magnified, every quiet performance dissected. For Isak, the scrutiny has been relentless.

He is aware of it, but insists he does not need external reminders.

“I think obviously I’m the first one to know,” he told Sky Sports earlier in December. “I know best when I’m doing good and when I’m not doing good. So I don’t need anyone to tell me how I’m doing.”

That self-awareness has been accompanied by frustration. Isak openly admitted that his goal return is unacceptable by his own standards.

“I expect to do much more, of course,” he said. “Even when I do really well, I want more.”

Injuries, Interruptions and Lost Rhythm

Part of Isak’s difficulty has been physical. Minor injuries have disrupted his rhythm, preventing him from building momentum at a time when confidence was already fragile. Stop-start availability has meant fewer consistent runs of games, fewer chances to settle.

“It’s not been easy, of course, individually and also collectively,” he admitted. “We’ve not had the best results lately.”

For a striker, confidence is everything. One goal can change a season; one missed chance can define it. Isak has experienced both extremes in his career, and he is leaning on that experience now.

“That comes with experience,” he explained. “Never too high, never too low.”

Pressure on Slot, Patience Tested at Anfield

As Liverpool’s league position stagnates, attention has increasingly turned toward Arne Slot. The Dutchman arrived with a strong reputation, but managing expectations at Anfield is a unique challenge.

Isak’s struggles have become part of the wider debate: did Liverpool rebuild too quickly? Did they spend too much, too soon? Was Isak the right profile to lead the line in a transitional season?

For now, Slot continues to back his striker publicly. Behind the scenes, there is still belief that Isak’s qualities will surface once the system stabilises.

A Chance Without Salah

Saturday’s trip to Tottenham Hotspur may offer Isak a defining opportunity. Mohamed Salah’s absence due to the Africa Cup of Nations removes Liverpool’s primary reference point in attack. For the first time, Isak will not be compared to the club’s modern icon within the same XI.

It is both a challenge and an opening. Responsibility will fall heavier on his shoulders, but so too will freedom.

For a striker searching for clarity, sometimes that is all that is needed.

What Comes Next for Isak and Liverpool?

Liverpool v Nottingham Forest – Premier League

Football careers are rarely linear. Isak knows that better than most. He has experienced setbacks before and emerged stronger. The question now is whether Liverpool can provide the environment he needs to do so again.

For now, there are no clear answers — not from analysts, not from supporters, and not even from Isak himself.

But seasons are long. Confidence can return quickly. And history has shown that some of the Premier League’s biggest signings needed time before finding their feet.

Whether Alexander Isak becomes the striker Liverpool envisioned when they spent £125m remains to be seen. What is clear is that he is not hiding from the struggle. He is facing it head-on — without excuses, without certainty, and with a quiet determination to turn it around.