Alexander Isak was handed the Premier League player of the match award for his two-goal showing in Liverpool’s win at Ipswich Town.
But talkSPORT’s Dean Ashton went against the grain and snubbed the Swede in favour of his Reds teammate, who he instead believed deserved the honour.
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Isak scored twice inside nine minutes to help Andoni Iraola register his first win as Liverpool head coach.
The British record £125million signing had bagged a hat-trick on his last visit to Portman Road with Newcastle.
‘Looks like the Isak who was at Newcastle’
Speaking on talkSPORT’s live commentary from the game, Ashton said: “I’ve been watching Alexander Isak…
“Last season, you could tell he was just never fit, and he was never sharp.
“He didn’t look fresh at all, but he looks like the Isak who was at Newcastle.
“He looks really sharp in the way that he plays, and the runs he’s making are so clever for this level because he runs towards the defender before he makes his own run.
“From a defender’s point of view, it looks like you’ve got him, but he’s running at you, but he is running off you.
“Then, he just takes that little step, and that is what happened for the first goal.
“He ran towards [Jacob] Greaves, so he thought he had him, but he then just dipped away to give him that yard, and it is just such clever movement that gets you thinking as a defender.
“If he can continue in this way, and he looks as fresh and fit, then Liverpool have got the striker they thought.”
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Isak for Golden Boot?
Since the 2022-23 season, only Erling Haaland (19) has more Premier League goals against newly promoted clubs than Isak (18).
The Norwegian clinched the Golden Boot award again after a 27-goal campaign last season for the third time in four years.
The only year in which he failed to top the Premier League goal standings was his third-placed finish in the 2024-25 season, in which Isak finished above him in his last year at Newcastle.
The latter’s teething issues in his first 12 months at Anfield eliminated any chance of a Golden Boot battle last season, but Ashton was asked whether it’ll be a different story this time around.
“Well, we know when he’s at his best, he can [challenge Haaland for the Golden Boot], Ashton added to talkSPORT.
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“We know what a fantastic striker he can be, and he’s fit. You can tell he’s fit, even though he’s taken off slightly earlier.
“So maybe there’s more. Maybe there’s more to come from Isak, but he’s a deadly finisher when he’s at his best.
“If you get him the ball in the right areas, which Liverpool have already this season For the start of this season, then he’ll get you goals. So I think that’s a real positive.”
But not Man of the Match?
Ashton said: “It’s not Isak because [Kjell] Scherpen threw the first one in. Yes, the second one was good, but he left after 63 minutes or whatever it was.
“I’m going to give it to Ronald Araujo because he’s come in; he’s taken Jeremie Frimpong’s place, they’ve changed something in the set-up of the backline, and he’s given that role in that area.
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“That’s a problem area, freeing up [Dominik] Szoboszlai.
“I thought he was excellent, and actually he looks so suited to the Premier League – so physical, brilliant in the air, really aggressive in his defensive work, good on the ball.
“I was really impressed with how he came in and adapted Liverpool’s backline.”
