Journalist: Liverpool fans can write this season off for summer signing

Alexander Isak and Patience in a Title Winning Liverpool Side

Liverpool’s record breaking £125m move for Alexander Isak on transfer deadline day was never going to be a quiet one. Big fees rarely are, especially at a club freshly crowned Premier League champions under Arne Slot in his debut season. Expectations were immediate, the scrutiny relentless, and early returns have been modest. Two goals and one assist across all competitions, with just one Premier League strike, barely registers for a striker signed to elevate an already elite squad.

Speaking to Dave Davis for Anfield Index, David Lynch offered a measured, grounded assessment of where Isak stands right now. His comments cut through the noise, leaning on context rather than panic, and they deserve to be treated with the same patience Liverpool’s recruitment team are likely applying behind the scenes.

Context of a Disrupted Season

Lynch was clear that the roots of Isak’s struggles run deeper than missed chances or quiet performances. As he put it, “It felt like this season was going to get away from him as soon as he missed pre-season.” For a player arriving late, carrying expectations and adapting to a new tactical structure, that absence matters. Slot’s system demands intensity, repetition, and physical sharpness. You do not stumble into it at full speed.

That lack of preparation has shown most clearly in Isak’s conditioning. Lynch did not shy away from that reality, saying, “He looks so far off it physically at the moment, so I would be writing this season off almost.” This is not an indictment of ability but an acknowledgement of circumstance. Liverpool’s game model is unforgiving for anyone chasing fitness in real time.

Physical Reality and Performance Levels

Perhaps the most striking observation from Lynch centred on endurance rather than output. “He’s blowing after playing ten minutes.” That single line explains more than any heat map or expected goals chart. Liverpool ask their forwards to press, drop, rotate, and repeat. When the body cannot keep pace, confidence and execution follow it downhill.

Yet Lynch balanced that honesty with perspective. “But, you don’t lose your footballing ability over night and he isn’t at the age where he could fall from a cliff.” At 25, Isak remains firmly within his prime development window. This is not decline, it is delay.

Long Term View Under Arne Slot

Slot’s first season ended with a league title, setting an unforgiving benchmark. That success can distort how individual adaptation is judged. Not every player integrates at the same velocity, particularly one arriving late into a settled, high functioning squad.

Lynch’s outlook reflects that longer arc. “I’m still not massively concerned, but I do expect him to continue to be like this until the end of the season.” That may sound bleak, but it is pragmatic. Writing off this campaign in terms of peak performance may be the healthiest option for both player and club.

There is still room for contribution. “If he can chip in with a few goals then that’s fantastic but I do really think he’s struggling.” Liverpool do not need Isak to carry them now, they need him ready to do so later.

Patience as a Strategic Asset

The closing thought from Lynch feels like the most important. “Hopefully he can just keep playing and keep working at it and he will get there eventually.” For Liverpool, patience is not passive, it is strategic. The fee is sunk, the talent proven, and the environment stable.

History is full of elite forwards who needed a bedding in period before exploding into form. Isak’s story at Anfield feels far closer to that template than a cautionary tale.