Alexander Isak cost Liverpool £125m. That number follows him everywhere, and it should. Fees of that size come with scrutiny, expectation and, sooner or later, output. After a first season wrecked by fitness issues and a serious injury, the Liverpool striker heads back to Newcastle United on Sunday with a point to prove and a manager making it very clear what comes next.
Andoni Iraola has not dressed it up. He sees this as a major campaign for Isak, and there is logic to that. Liverpool need far more than flashes. They need availability, goals and consistency from a forward signed to lead the line.
Iraola put it plainly: "I think it is a massive season for Alexander. He knows at the end it is (about) two things: the first is availability, and without availability we cannot have the second thing, which is the performance level.
"But I think this has to be the first aim for us, to keep him in a good place in terms of being available. I'm sure if we manage to do this he will perform well because he has been very good during the pre-season.
"If we can keep him at a good level he will score his goals and he will be a threat. I have no doubts about his level."

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