Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola is facing a tactical puzzle as his team struggles to find attacking fluency, a challenge that is impacting striker Alexander Isak. In the team's opening two matches of the Premier League season, both ended in 2-2 draws, with Liverpool conceding late goals despite enjoying significant possession. Against Newcastle, the team held 60% possession, and against Nottingham Forest, it rose to 70%, yet they have yet to lead in a match this season. This pattern has made Isak's role more complex, as he excelled in a counter-attacking system previously. Against teams that adopt a low defensive block, the dynamic shifts, requiring a different approach.
This issue is not new for Iraola. During his tenure with Bournemouth last season, the team secured only four victories in the 19 Premier League games where they possessed the majority of the ball. Conversely, they won nine of the other 19 matches. Bournemouth's strength lay in their counter-pressing style and effectiveness in transitions, and they notably failed to win any game in which they exceeded 58.8% possession. Essentially, Iraola's previous side was more successful when ceding possession, a scenario unlikely to be replicated at Anfield.
"As an attacking force it isn't flowing for Liverpool," noted one observer. "With the physical nature of the Premier League and with them not 100% sure on what they are doing at the moment, teams are stomping all over them." The assessment suggests that significant work will be required from Iraola and his coaching staff on the training pitch. Despite these challenges, Isak, who scored his first goal of the current season in the draw against Nottingham Forest, acknowledged the difficulty of scoring in every game. He stated, "Not really. I think every striker wants to score [in] every game he plays. Obviously that's difficult but [we take] each game at a time." While his performance against Forest was an improvement, there is an expectation that Isak can and must deliver more in his current role.