BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton has offered a blunt but accurate assessment of Alexander Isak’s situation, summing it up with the phrase, “you reap what you sow.”
His comments shed light on the events that unfolded over the summer and how they’ve come back to haunt both Isak and Liverpool. The Newcastle United striker’s decision to refuse to train or play as he pushed for a move to Anfield has, in Sutton’s eyes, directly contributed to his current struggles and Liverpool’s disappointing run of form.
After forcing through a record-breaking £130 million transfer, expectations were sky-high for Isak to make an immediate impact at Liverpool. Instead, his start to life at Anfield has been plagued by fitness problems and inconsistency.
Sutton believes that the forward’s lack of sharpness is no coincidence. By downing tools at Newcastle, he not only disrupted his pre-season rhythm but also set himself up for the setbacks that have followed.
According to Sutton, missing valuable training sessions and match fitness over the summer has left Isak struggling to catch up in the fast-paced Premier League environment, where physical readiness is crucial.
Liverpool’s recent form has done little to ease the frustration. Their 3-1 loss to Brentford marked their fifth defeat in six games, and the atmosphere around Anfield has grown tense.
Many fans are directing their anger toward both manager Arne Slot and the club’s expensive new signing, who has missed several matches with recurring groin problems.
The irony isn’t lost on supporters or pundits the very player Liverpool worked so hard to sign from Newcastle has so far been unable to deliver.
Sutton didn’t hold back when describing how the summer saga has had a ripple effect. “It feels like what has happened to Alexander Isak is a case of you reap what you sow,” he said.
“He’s been short of full fitness and sharpness all season and he didn’t help himself by missing training at Newcastle to force his move to Anfield. He got what he wanted, but now he’s playing catch-up instead of hitting the ground running. That’s when you start picking up injuries.”
Despite his struggles, Sutton was quick to acknowledge Isak’s undeniable talent. The Swedish forward is an exceptional player who, when fully fit, possesses the ability to change games with his speed, skill, and composure in front of goal.
Sutton expressed confidence that Isak will eventually find his rhythm and start scoring regularly again. However, he emphasized that the damage has already been done not just to the player, but to Liverpool’s team chemistry.
“Isak is too good a player not to start scoring goals,” Sutton continued. “But this situation has affected Liverpool as a whole. His lack of fitness is one of the reasons they haven’t quite clicked in the final third yet.”
The situation serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of forcing transfers in modern football. Isak may have secured his dream move, but it came at the cost of his early momentum and form.
Liverpool, meanwhile, are learning that big-money signings don’t always guarantee instant success especially when a player arrives without a proper pre-season foundation.
As for Newcastle fans, many will see poetic justice in the unfolding drama. They’ve watched their former star’s struggles from afar, perhaps with a hint of satisfaction after the way things ended.
For Isak and Liverpool, though, the message is clear shortcuts in football rarely pay off, and as Sutton rightly said, you always reap what you sow.
