Michael Owen has warned Alexander Isak he is ‘running out of excuses’ after the Premier League’s record signing failed to make an impact in Liverpool’s 1-1 draw against Newcastle.
The Reds broke the British transfer record to sign the Sweden international last summer, but he endured a wretched first season at Anfield.
Injuries severely restricted to the extent whereby he started just nine Premier League games and was outshone by Hugo Ekitike who joined from Eintracht Frankfurt in the same window.
Having starred at the World Cup for his country and enjoyed the benefit of a full pre-season, new Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola would have hoped for Isak to hit the ground running this term.
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Instead, the 26-year-old laboured at a febrile St James’ Park on Sunday, where his every touch was jeered by the fans who once lauded him.
Iraola and Liverpool were, ultimately, fortunate to escape with a point and a 2-2 draw after Dominik Szoboszlai converted a 97th minute penalty, but Owen admits the Reds need to start seeing more of a return on their huge £125million investment.
‘I had plenty of injuries in my career so I know how hard it is to get back and you do need a bit of time,’ Owen told talkSPORT.
‘We’ve given him time, everyone has given him time and understood that. But he’s finished the season, then he’s gone to the World Cup and now he’s had a pre-season and you just think OK, now we’re starting to run out of excuses.
‘We need to see the real Isak and we know how good he is. Wow, we saw him for Newcastle and he’s absolute class.
We haven’t seen it for Liverpool just yet and questions will come now. As I say, always give him the benefit of doubt in the past but at the start of this season we’re expecting.
‘Liverpool absolutely need him, they’ve lost Salah, Ekitike is out, there’s not that many options in attacking areas. They absolutely need him in top form and yesterday he was far from it, I thought he was a yard off and that’s worrying.
‘I thought so was Wirtz I thought he was really quiet as well. They did well to scrounge a point in the end.
‘But he’s the big money signing, he’s the headline signing but I can’t sit here and say he played really well because he didn’t.’
Iraola, meanwhile, denied the abuse Isak encountered at his old stomping ground, a result of effectively going on strike last summer to force his move to Liverpool, played a part in another underwhelming display.
‘I think he expected a bit the atmosphere, it was not a big surprise for him,’ Iraola said.
‘He has tried everything, given us good positions on the ball, has had a couple of situations to finish in the box but not the clearest but I value that he has continued pushing, fighting.
‘We scored at the end, so probably you have a better taste. Before the game we wouldn’t have signed for this result.’
