Iraola says Isak is 'close to a guarantee' to score

Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has praised the form of Alexander Isak, saying the Sweden international is close to a guarantee in front of goal. Isak scored his seventh goal of the campaign as a substitute in the midweek Champions League defeat by Fenerbahce.

Asked at his pre-Crystal Palace press conference on Friday how close Isak is to his best level, Iraola said: “Alex is a top goalscorer. If we can put him in the position to score, he will deliver. It’s not a guarantee but it’s the closest thing to a guarantee almost.”

Iraola added that the forward can still improve. “Like every player, he can add more things to his game. We want to use the things that he has – he is very good also attacking the spaces, attacking the channels, coming to receive [the ball]. I think he is technically clean also.” He added: “We are trying to use him in the best way.”

Bradley Barcola was also a topic at the briefing. The France international moved from his usual flank position to the centre of Liverpool’s forward line in Turkiye on Wednesday.

On whether that could happen more often, Iraola said: “Bradley is a winger. Mostly he has played as a left winger, sometimes as a right winger, but he also has played in PSG as a striker.” He added: “It’s something that I wanted to try. I thought against their centre-backs he could be a threat, especially in behind.”

Iraola said Barcola will still be used mostly as a winger. “But he is a winger and he will be mostly – 90 per cent of the time – used as a winger. But it’s alternatives that I sometimes want to try.” He said he had tried a similar approach with Cody Gakpo against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup.

Iraola said the switch could also be an option during matches. “Not maybe from the beginning but it’s true that during the game, I think it’s options that we can use when Alex is tired and we need another type of striker. We can use other strikers that we have but also wingers can do a job there.”