ALEXANDER THE GREAT! - Inside Isak's return to form at Liverpool as new boss Iraola strikes gold

It was a mere footnote on an afternoon of much-needed encouragement for Liverpool following a difficult week.

And that Alexander Isak's match-clinching strike at Selhurst Park has largely flown under the radar speaks volumes about how perception has now changed over the £125million striker, as outlined by The Liverpool Echo.

Isak scoring is increasingly becoming accepted as part of another positive occasion for the Reds, the neat finish for their third in the 3-1 win at struggling Crystal Palace already his seventh in nine Premier League games this season.

That output matches his best start to a top-flight campaign in England having previously achieved the feat in 2023/24 with Newcastle United when he eventually went on to score 21 times in the competition.

Isak, though, has managed it in a shorter amount of time this time around, with it taking him until the 13th game three years ago. This term he has done it in 10 having only sat out one Premier League game so far, albeit a notable one in the 3-0 defeat at home to Manchester City.

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The reverse came immediately after the last international break in which Isak suffered a thigh injury with Sweden that subsequently ruled him out of two Liverpool games.

Reds boss Andoni Iraola, then, will be hoping Isak successfully negotiates his country's forthcoming UEFA Nations League games against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Saturday and in Poland next Tuesday, not least given the blockbusting visit of bitter North West rivals Manchester United looms on the horizon when the Premier League resumes later this month.

Isak's goal was the fourth consecutive away league game in which he has scored, the first Liverpool player to achieve such a feat since Mohamed Salah.

Intriguingly, though, it was only the second of the seven games in which he has scored in all competitions where he hasn't netted either an equaliser or a winner. Isak's goals usually matter in changing the state and flow of a game.

Indeed, long gone is the conversation over whether the forward can deliver for Liverpool, with Isak moving on to eight goals for the campaign overall - already double the figure he managed during a debut campaign hampered by injury, fitness issues and loss of form.

The question has now shifted to how the Reds can best provide service to Isak as the 27-year-old better realises the demands laid down by Iraola to help the team.

There have been positive changes in both aspects. Florian Wirtz's assist for Isak at Palace was his first since the pass that invited the Swede to score at Tottenham Hotspur last December before having his leg broken by Micky van de Ven's attempted block.

Cody Gakpo's cross for Isak at Fenerbahce in midweek was the fourth time this campaign he has set up the forward, with Bradley Barcola providing two further assists.

And having publicly reminded Isak of his responsibilities regards teamwork earlier in the season, Iraola saw fit to praise the forward on Sunday for his work off the ball.

"The one I appreciate more is the movement he does in Florian's goal," he said. "He attacks very well the first post, he leaves the space in behind for Florian to arrive, good play from Bradley.

"And it's not just the goals. We need this kind of help from the team-mate, sometimes sacrifice your option for your team-mate."

Perhaps the Liverpool fanbase is being educated, too. For the best part of a decade, with the fleeting exception of Darwin Nunez, supporters have grown accustomed to watching the Reds operate with a false number nine, whether it be Roberto Firmino or, for large parts of the 2024/25 title-winning season, Luis Diaz.

By contrast, Isak is very much an out-and-out number nine, albeit a modern variant in the mould of Manchester City's Erling Haaland. He won't be involved in much of the general play, but will be expected to take opportunities when they arise.

The Liverpool man had only 30 touches against Palace before being substituted shortly after his 89th-minute goal, easily the fewest of any player on either side who featured for a similar period during the game.

But there is a shout Isak is becoming the most efficient leading striker in the Premier League. The opening he spurned when firing at Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson after being played clear by Victor Munoz was only the fourth big chance he had missed in the top flight this season. Compare that to seven from Haaland and whopping 16 from Everton's Thierno Barry.

Only Haaland has scored more goals in the Premier League this season than Isak, while in all competitions Barry and Nicolas Jackson of Aston Villa are also above the Liverpool man.

And while Isak's xG in the Premier League of 4.9 is behind only Barry (7.3) and Haaland (7.1), he is outperforming his xG more than the duo. His shot conversion rate of 28% surpasses all of his leading striker rivals, as does his goals per shot ratio of 0.28 and goals per shot on target ratio of 0.64.

The numbers back up the fact Isak is finally becoming the player Liverpool knew they were buying - and the one Iraola wants him to be.