Alexander Isak endured another difficult outing as Liverpool secured a win over Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The club’s record signing was making his first Premier League start since December 2025, when he suffered a fibula injury while scoring in a 2-1 victory over Spurs. After returning midweek to lead the attack against Paris Saint-Germain — a match that ended in Liverpool’s Champions League exit — the Swedish striker has struggled to rediscover his rhythm.
Against Everton, Isak remained largely ineffective, managing just nine touches and failing to trouble the opposition defence before being substituted for Rio Ngumoha.
Throughout the season, Arne Slot has rarely been able to field Isak alongside marquee additions Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz. However, many Liverpool fans believe a different issue is affecting his performances — particularly his on-pitch connection with Cody Gakpo.
Supporters watching the match felt the partnership between Gakpo on the left and Isak through the middle simply isn’t clicking, with the striker visibly frustrated at times. Some fans even suggested Gakpo is reluctant to pass to him, while others argued that Isak is being starved of service due to the wingers’ tendency to cut inside and shoot instead of creating chances.
Criticism also surfaced before kickoff, with Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher questioning Slot’s decision to start Isak, especially with Ekitike already ruled out for the rest of the season. Carragher admitted he was unsure the forward was ready for the physical battle against Everton’s defenders, pointing to his struggles against PSG.
Liverpool now turn their attention to a crucial clash with Crystal Palace at Anfield as they continue their push for Champions League qualification.
