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Alexander Isak has been hailed as a “magical player” by former Sweden international Stefan Schwarz, who believes the Liverpool striker still has more to do to fully prove his worth at Anfield. After arriving from Newcastle United for a record-breaking £125 million, the Swedish forward endured an injury-hit debut season on Merseyside, netting only four goals.

Isak’s £125 million ($165m) transfer to Liverpool came with huge expectations, and much more will be demanded from him in his second campaign in the famous red jersey. Wearing the No.9 shirt, he will be eager to rediscover his best form in the 2026-27 season.

Liverpool’s collective struggles last season ultimately resulted in Arne Slot being dismissed just one year after leading the club to the Premier League title. The Reds now look to new manager Andoni Iraola to restore consistency and competitiveness.

Isak will be central to that revival. With patience a rare commodity in modern football, the Swedish striker hopes his performances at the World Cup in North America can serve as a springboard. He has already opened his account in the tournament with a goal in Sweden’s first group-stage match against Tunisia.

As he prepares to face Kylian Mbappe and France next, Isak’s focus remains on both the World Cup and his upcoming Premier League season. When asked if the striker needs to score more than 20 goals in 2026-27 to silence critics, Stefan Schwarz, speaking on behalf of Betinia, told GOAL: “I think the most important thing is that he scores in the next game against France. That’s the main thing. And he should enjoy a good experience in the World Cup. You can’t look too far ahead now – his focus has to be on Sweden in the World Cup.”

Schwarz added: “It will be interesting to see Isak have a full pre-season from the start; that will help him a lot. I think he feels he could have played many more matches. The injury came, it was a new club, and there was pressure at a big club like Liverpool.”

He continued: “I think he is a magical player. The key is staying injury-free and playing week in and week out. If he does that, he will be a fantastic asset for Liverpool.”

Meanwhile, as Isak departed Newcastle last summer, his international teammate Anthony Elanga made the move in the opposite direction, joining the Magpies. The pacey former Manchester United and Nottingham Forest winger faced a difficult first campaign, registering just one goal and three assists.

There has been growing speculation regarding Elanga’s future, with reports suggesting Newcastle could consider letting him go. However, Schwarz believes patience is vital: “I think overall, Newcastle had a disappointing season. They have very good players, but the performances didn’t come through. They’ll want to prove this season that they’re still among the top teams. I like their structure, their players, their manager, and we know they’re capable of playing brilliant football.”

He added: “Just because you have a below-par season doesn’t mean you should change clubs. Sometimes you need to stay and fight because consistency between players is important. You have to build that understanding. Sometimes it doesn’t work in the first season, but the second can be very successful if you have the desire and hunger. Last season wasn’t the Newcastle we know – but if they keep their players and regain their level, they can be very dangerous.”

Sweden now face a tough test in the World Cup last-32 as they take on France and their star-studded attack on Tuesday. Graham Potter’s team could find themselves heading for an early exit if they fail to advance, but regardless of the outcome, both Isak and Elanga will be eager to make strong returns to their clubs. Their pre-season preparations will be critical as they aim to hit the ground running and show their fans what they are truly capable of.