It has finally happened; the saga is over. Alexander Isak has finally joined Liverpool in a British record fee of £125m. It was not without its drama, though. Isak had made it clear that he would not play for Newcastle again, and the Magpies were scrambling for a replacement. Rejections from Ekitike and Sesko made it seem like the move would not happen. However, a late £69m bid for young German striker Woltemade was accepted, allowing Newcastle to sell the Swede.
Speaking from an FPL perspective, last year Isak was a gem at £8.5m. He was the fourth highest-scoring player and the highest-scoring forward in the game with 211 points, averaging 6.21 points per game. The Newcastle talisman produced a massive 23 goals and six assists during his 34 appearances.
Now onto the 2025/26 season: Isak was priced at £10.5m and was the second most expensive forward after Haaland. He was, in fact, in most template teams, being the focal point of the Newcastle attack. However, after news emerged that he did not travel to their Asia tour and was wanting an exit, many managers decided to remove him from their teams. Some people may have kept him, believing he would join Liverpool before the season starts or continue playing for Newcastle until the move materialized. This did not happen, and his price would fall to £10.4m.
The international break is here, and it gives us time to reset and think about what to do with Isak. With lots of managers using this as an opportunity to grab the Swede, here are the pros and cons:
Pros: The Case for Isak
1. Elite Goal-Scoring Potential
Isak is a proven goalscorer. He has consistently outperformed his expected goals (xG) and expected assists (xA) metrics, demonstrating a clinical finishing ability. Talking about last season, Isak garnered 29 goals and assists from 24.19 xG+xA an incredible overperformance. This is not just a one-season hit or purple patch, as in the 2023/24 season he garnered 23 goals and assists from 23.10 xG+xA. He constantly gets into attacking positions, and his ability to shoot from distance is also special.
2. Joining an Attacking Juggernaut
Liverpool is renowned for its attacking prowess and high-scoring matches. Playing in a system designed to create numerous goal-scoring opportunities under Arne Slot, Isak is expected to have a constant supply of chances. Playing alongside Wirtz, Salah, Ekitike, and Gakpo will boost his numbers even more.
3. Versatility and Movement
Isak is not just a poacher. His technical brilliance, speed, and intelligent off-the-ball movement allow him to create space and opportunities for himself and his teammates. He can operate as a lone striker or in a fluid front three, and his ability to make runs into the box and find pockets of space adds another dimension to his FPL appeal.
Cons: The Case against Isak
1. The Injury Record
One of the most significant red flags for Isak is his injury history. He has missed a considerable number of games in recent seasons due to a series of recurring issues, including groin, hamstring, and thigh injuries. It has gotten better for Isak in recent seasons, but the danger is still there. With Liverpool most likely to go deep into the Champions League and lot of midweek cup fixtures, there is a chance of an injury. In the last three seasons, he has been out for 206 days with injuries.
2. Penalty Goals
While Isak taking penalties is a potential pro, it’s far from a guarantee. Mohamed Salah has been the primary penalty taker for Liverpool for years, and it’s highly unlikely he will relinquish that duty. It was a small number of four goals he scored from penalties last year, but still, a route of points for Isak has gone.
3. Ekitike issue
Liverpool have signed French talent Hugo Ekitike for a fee of £79 million and has shown his worth so far. Apart from the Arsenal fixture, he has scored in all of his other matches. In his first Premier League match, he would become the first ever Frenchman to score and assist in his debut. This begs the question: where does Isak fit? Will he play at left wing at the expense of Cody Gakpo, who has himself gotten a goal and two assists in three matches? Both Isak and Ekitike have a similar heat map, not to mention their height and build is exactly the same.
4. Fitness Risk
Isak has not had a proper preseason and has played zero minutes so far, whereas others have played in at least 2-3 matches so far. The lack of match sharpness, rhythm, and tactical understanding with his new teammates is a major hurdle. Even the most talented players need time to get up to speed. However, for him there is a chance to get up to match fitness. Sweden are playing their World Cup qualifiers against Slovenia and Kosovo. Isak has reportedly also asked manager Jon Dahl Tomasson to give him valuable minutes.
Alexander Isak all smiles in Sweden training as Viktor Gyokeres reacts to British-record Liverpool transfer 🎥 pic.twitter.com/BZdJrClePz
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 2, 2025
What should You Do?
The Swede has already been bought by over 300,000 managers, but is it the right time to purchase him?
Nearly 250,000 managers have already brought in Alexander Isak for Gameweek 4 👀 pic.twitter.com/PcUuzAygNN
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) September 2, 2025
I would personally wait and see how many minutes Isak plays and how rusty he looks before purchasing him. There is a very high chance Isak will come on as a sub against Burnley after the international break and could be ready for a start against Everton in the Merseyside Derby at home. It highly depends: if you are on a wildcard and can afford to bench him, I would buy him. If you are not, I would recommend you stay put and wait and see how Slot manages Isak, Ekitike, and Gakpo, and then make a move.
