Swedish-Eritrean striker Alexander Isak questioned by Warnock as he wonders if Liverpool made the right call

Liverpool’s stuttering title defence has prompted former Reds defender Stephen Warnock to question whether Alexander Isak is the right stylistic fit for the champions, with the striker’s early struggles becoming a focal point of concern.

Warnock’s assessment comes after a damaging home defeat to Nottingham Forest, Liverpool’s sixth league loss of the campaign, which has intensified scrutiny on several key signings, including their record arrival from Newcastle.

Isak, who has Eritrean roots through his family, has scored only once in nine league matches since his £125 million move from Newcastle.

His limited impact has coincided with Liverpool’s slide to eleventh place, prompting debate over whether the club signed a forward suited to their evolving system.

Warnock believes several factors have contributed to Isak’s difficult start.

“I think Isak’s massively suffered from not having a full pre-season. I still think he’s way off where he was. But I also look at it from a stylistic point of view.

“Does he fit into Liverpool’s style? Is he the type of player that Liverpool perhaps needed when they’ve got (Hugo) Ekitike, who’s also a very similar player but likes to drift off that left-hand side, probably a little bit different in the way that he approaches the game.

Warnock argued that Isak thrived at Newcastle because of the players around him.

“I just look at the way Newcastle’s wingers were, both flying wingers, both look to get to bylines and take people on or run beyond the striker. Whereas if you look at Liverpool’s, they don’t particularly do that. (Cody) Gakpo and Salah don’t particularly run in behind as much as the Newcastle players do.

“And then Isak would drop off and come deep. Whereas I think with Liverpool, he’s being asked to run in behind a little bit more. Whereas for opposition defenders, everything now is in front of them and it seems very easy to play against.”

Isak’s form, and Liverpool’s broader struggles, remain central talking points as pressure mounts on the champions to find solutions.