Rush backs Isak to ‘come alive this season’ for Liverpool

Syndicated reporting provided by Stats Perform and reviewed by the SoccerNews editorial team.

Former Liverpool striker Ian Rush predicts Alexander Isak will “come alive this season” to propel the club to success.

Isak joined Liverpool from Newcastle United in a British-record transfer worth £125m last September but endured a turbulent first campaign at Anfield.

He managed just 22 appearances in all competitions, netting four goals in total, with his season hindered by injury.

Isak suffered a broken fibula and ankle injury against Tottenham in December, resulting in a lengthy lay-off that ensured he did not hit the heights he had previously shown at Newcastle.

The striker did score one goal and register three assists for Sweden at the World Cup and made his return for Liverpool in their pre-season friendly loss to Leeds United on Sunday.

And Rush, who is Liverpool’s all-time leading goalscorer with 346 goals, believes the extra time to settle back in with the team will help in getting Isak back to his best.

“Well, hopefully so,” Rush told Stats Perform when asked if Isak will benefit from playing under new coach Andoni Iraola.

“I think he was unlucky with injuries last year. But when he’s playing for Newcastle, he’s probably had the best strike in the Premier League that year. We’re looking for that again.

“Now he’s played in the World Cup, he’s come back and scored a goal. Now he’s had a proper pre-season at Liverpool because if you miss pre-season, you’re playing catch-up all the time, but now he’s had a pre-season there.

“It’s always nice to score in pre-season; it gives you confidence and all that. I’m expecting him to come alive this season, and if he does that, I think we’ll be successful.”

Isak spent three seasons with Newcastle, scoring in the EFL Cup final against Liverpool to help the Magpies end their long wait for a major trophy.

He scored 62 goals across all competitions, with 54 of those coming in the Premier League.

In his final season at St. James’ Park, Isak scored 23 Premier League goals – only Mohamed Salah (29) netted more – while he averaged a goal every 120.4 minutes.

Rush is excited to see him get back to that form and show off the same threat that he did while at Newcastle.

“He’s fast, he’s strong, but he’s got a knack for goal,” Rush said when asked what he liked about Isak’s game.

“I think as a striker, it’s getting them chances when normal people don’t do. His reading of the game as a striker, when I watched him for Newcastle, was very, very good.

“I think a striker is born with something, like myself, and he’s born with something. He’s still got to improve and do other things, but I think it’s his natural ability, and he’s got that natural ability.”

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