Isak's Newcastle reunion is a chance to start rewriting his Liverpool story

There are reunions for players to cherish. Alexander Isak's return to St James' Park on Sunday will not be that. The Newcastle supporters will make their feelings known. That is beyond his control. Isak's job is to focus on winning over those fans in Liverpool red. <p>This classic Premier League opener comes one year on from the incendiary statement by the Swedish striker that his relationship with Newcastle "cannot continue" due to broken promises and trust. And one year on, his Liverpool career has not yet ignited.</p><p>Isak was absent from this meeting last season, although his spectre loomed over it. Some might say the real Isak is yet to reappear. Three Premier League goals for Liverpool last season barely hinted at the reasons why they committed to paying \u00a3130m for him.</p><widget id="6"></widget><ul><li><a href="https://qrcode.skysports.com/TransfersSkySportsApp" target="_blank"><strong>Transfer Centre LIVE!</strong></a><strong> | </strong><a href="https://qrcode.skysports.com/skysports/Livblogarticles" target="_blank"><strong>Liverpool news & transfers</strong></a>\ud83d\udd34</li><li><a href="https://www.skysports.com/liverpool-scores-fixtures" target="_blank"><strong>Liverpool fixtures & scores</strong></a><strong> | </strong><a href="https://qrcode.skysports.com/skysports/FreePLHighlightsFirst" target="_blank"><strong>FREE Liverpool highlights</strong></a>\u25b6\ufe0f</li><li><strong>Got Sky? </strong><a href="https://qrcode.skysports.com/skysports/WatchPremarticles" target="_blank"><strong>Watch Premier League games LIVE on your phone</strong></a>\ud83d\udcf1</li><li><strong>Not got Sky? </strong><a href="https://www.sky.com/tv/sports?dcmp=Ilc_skysports_nc_articlelink" target="_blank"><strong>Latest Sky Sports deals</strong></a><strong> or </strong><a href="https://www.nowtv.com/membership/watch-sky-sports/football/premier-league?DCMP=ilc_skysports_nc_articlelink" target="_blank"><strong>stream PL games with no contract</strong></a>\ud83d\udcfa</li></ul><p>Without a proper pre-season, he arrived at Anfield not fully fit and that hampered his ability to make a fast start. A fractured fibula in December denied him the chance to find the sort of rhythm that strikers rely on. But there is a reason why the fee was so high.</p><p>The acrimony awaiting Isak reflects the sense of betrayal felt by those in the Gallowgate End and beyond, but it also speaks to his record. In his final two seasons at Newcastle, only Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah scored more goals in the Premier League.</p> <widget id="2"></widget><p>He was the man who scored what turned out to be winner - against Liverpool of all teams - to end the club's 56-year trophy wait. Elegant and willowy, he does not have the frame of a typical terrace idol, but his cool and clinical finishing from all angles made him a favourite.</p><p>There is little point relitigating last summer but what is clear is that Isak's first year in a Liverpool shirt was largely wasted. Their fans have not seen nearly enough of those first-time finishes, the man who glides across the ground, always seeming to have time.</p><p>For Isak, 27 next month, that needs to change. And it is why a fixture loaded with meaning is actually more about the future than the past. One year on from that record-breaking move, can he still become the player who Liverpool thought they were buying?</p> <widget id="5"></widget><p>Speaking at the start of pre-season, new Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola said: "I think he was good in the World Cup. He will have three or four weeks of quality training, I hope we can put him in a good place because he is going to be massive for us this season."</p><p>Unlike many others for whom fatigue must be a concern, Isak's World Cup involvement should be a help not a hindrance. There have been some positive signs. He scored against Monaco. Watching him against Como, you had to look a bit harder to find them.</p><p>His best moment came early, a measured shot on the angle as he connected beautifully to strike the foot of the far post. It was an effortless finish, Isak at his best, all precision over power, an attempt to leave you wondering how the goalkeeper had been beaten.</p> <widget id="7"></widget><p>More intriguingly, there were also one or two examples of him winning the ball high up the pitch. In the 14th minute, he nicked the ball back but Florian Wirtz could not take the chance. This pressing is a trait that Iraola demands and Isak needs to do more of it.</p><p>"I am asking them to do things that are a little bit different, especially without the ball and I think they are trying to get it," said the Liverpool boss after the Como game. Isak himself commented on it after Monaco. "We are all working hard to make things work."</p><p>It is the physical demands rather than anything technical or tactical that are likely to dictate his success. For example, Isak actually outperformed his expected goals for a fourth consecutive Premier League season last time out. He remains a fine finisher.</p> <widget id="3"></widget><p>While Arne Slot complained about the team's inability to take their chances, the issue for Isak was that he was not getting on the end of those chances. That is the reason why his strike-rate last season was at its lowest level since his arrival in English football.</p><p>Again, the explanation is most likely physical. Isak's top speed last season was down. Rediscovering that spark is vital. In the sixth minute of the match against Como, there was applause when he chased a ball down the right channel but could not get there.</p> <widget id="4"></widget><p>Wirtz talked of working on the connection after Monaco when both scored. It did not quite click for the pair at the weekend. Their best bit of interplay came early in the second half when Isak skewed a shot well wide after being set up by the German playmaker.</p><p>There were other nearly moments. Isak hesitating on the edge of the box after 70 seconds and the ch...

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