Liverpool legend Emile Heskey has criticised the club’s record signing, Alexander Isak, stating the striker is “huffing and puffing” but failing to become a menacing presence for the Reds.
Liverpool Icon Tells £125m Man Isak He Must Become a ‘Menace’
The Swedish international joined Liverpool from Newcastle United for a British record fee of £125 million during the summer transfer window.
However, his start at Anfield has been difficult. Isak has managed just one goal in eight appearances across all competitions and recently suffered an injury that kept him out of the match against Brentford.
Former striker Emile Heskey expressed his concerns, emphasizing that when a forward is not scoring, they must contribute in other ways.
He pointed to the example of Ian Rush, a legendary Liverpool figure known for his relentless work ethic.
“The defence starts at the front,” Heskey told 10bet Casino.
“They had the best defender who played up front – Ian Rush. And he was just a menace to defenders.
Fundamentally, you have to get that right, and everything else will follow.”
Heskey suggested that Isak’s fitness may be a key issue holding him back.
“It looks like he’s huffing and puffing a bit, so he just needs to get his fitness up a bit to put in the graft that is needed at the highest level,” he said.
The former England forward also advised that the only solution is hard work. Heskey referenced current Liverpool defender Andy Robertson’s recent comments about the squad needing to work harder.
“The only way to get that match fitness back is in training, and obviously when thrown into games, work even harder,” Heskey added.
The criticism comes at a challenging time for manager Arne Slot’s team, who are currently on a four-game losing streak in the Premier League.
The squad now faces a crucial run of three consecutive home matches against Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup, Aston Villa in the league, and Real Madrid in the Champions League, offering a critical opportunity to rediscover their form.
