Liverpool ‘don’t trust’ Isak as striker makes feelings clear on Iraola

Joe Hart claims Alexander Isak still isn’t trusted at Liverpool despite having scored his first goal of the season. The Swedish striker completed a £125million move to Anfield from Newcastle last summer.

His first season was hugely disrupted by injury and he went on to score just four times across his debut campaign. Isak is already off the mark, having netted in Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest.

But apart from that, he looked isolated in Andoni Iraola’s system. In analysing his performance, former Manchester City star Joe Hart has claimed that Isak hasn’t quite earned the trust of his teammates yet.

Speaking to BBC Sport, he said: "It is clear that Liverpool haven't worked out how to play with Alexander Isak yet. At Newcastle everything flowed through him.

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“That was down to a trust thing that they had built up over time - their midfield knew exactly where he was and they didn't even need to look up as he'd be there waiting.

"At Liverpool that trust just isn't there at the moment - no-one is feeling it and he isn't that central point, which is leading to him looking lost and isolated."

Hart added: "Andoni Iraola has some big decisions to make. Does he base his team round him [Isak] or does he try to find a different solution within his squad? In my opinion he's got to commit to what the club have done by investing so heavily in Isak.

"There's no point signing these players if you aren't going to use them properly and play to their strengths. There's no doubting Isak's quality - they are just at a bit of a crossroads at the moment."

While Hart believes that Isak still has some work to do, the striker himself has had his say on Liverpool’s stuttering start to the season and believes they will hit top form with time.

He said: “I think there's no problem in fighting spirit and never giving up. I think we showed that last week as well. Obviously we started the game pretty bad today as well. When we gained momentum by scoring a goal, that's where we need to be better, I think, because again today we conceded quite quickly after that. But from the position we were [in], it's always good to get something out of the game."

He added: “It's been good [working under Iraola]. There's always time to get used to a new playing style and a new manager. But we are really working hard to try to play the game he wants us to play and I think when we start doing that better, I have no doubt that the results will come.”

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