Alexander Isak gets brutal verdict as Liverpool star told he’s ‘well off the pace’

Alexander Isak scored in Liverpool’s draw with Nottingham Forest but was slammed by Stuart Pearce for his overall display.

Isak notched his first goal of the season as the Reds twice came from behind to record their second 2-2 draw in as many games at the start of the new Premier League campaign.

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But that’s the only contribution of note the £125m striker has made this term, feels Pearce.

Pearce criticises ‘flat’ Isak

Commentating at Anfield for talkSPORT alongside Sam Matterface, Forest legend Pearce said after Isak failed to get on the end of a cross from Dominink Szoboszlai: “He’s claiming it’s a corner, but he’s been well off the pace today.

“He’s tapped the ball in the net, but that’s the one good thing that he’s done in the sum total of the couple of games that I’ve watched him play over this week.

“There’s been no energy from him. He looks flat.”

Isak had little impact as Liverpool shared the points with Newcastle, the club he left so acrimoniously for the Reds last year, on the opening weekend of the season.

Isak’s Liverpool struggles

The Sweden international, 26, has yet to live up to his hefty price tag, scoring only five goals in 23 games since making the move to Anfield.

He wasn’t helped by an injury-affected 2025/26 campaign, but Liverpool will want him to hit the prolific heights he’s previously shown he’s capable of.

Isak banged in 25 then 27 goals in all competitions in his penultimate and final seasons with Newcastle.

‘Hopefully the goals keep coming’

Asked by TNT Sports’ Jules Breach at full-time whether he felt ‘more responsibility’ to get goals this campaign following the departure of Mohamed Salah, Isak said: “Yeah, of course. That’s the job ultimately as a striker.

“And I’m obviously very happy to score the first one, and hopefully they just keep coming.”

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But he doesn’t necessarily set himself goalscoring targets for a campaign.

“Not really. I think every striker wants to score every game he plays,” he continued.

“Obviously, that’s difficult, but each game at a time.”

Isak will hope to add to his Liverpool tally as they chase their first win under Andoni Iraola away to Ipswich next Friday night, live on talkSPORT.

The Reds then begin their Champions League campaign at home to Atletico Madrid the following Wednesday.

Isak has yet to get off the mark in that competition for Liverpool, drawing a blank in seven appearances last term.