The pressure is mounting at Anfield, and all eyes are now on Alexander Isak. Liverpool's season has hit a turbulent patch, transforming what began as a promising campaign into a series of frustrating setbacks. A humiliating Premier League defeat to Wolves in early March set the tone, and despite a brief FA Cup resurgence against the same opponent, inconsistent performances have followed against Galatasaray, Tottenham, and Brighton.

The recent blows have been particularly severe. A lopsided FA Cup exit to Manchester City was compounded by a Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. While a 2-0 league win at Fulham offered a glimmer of hope, it was swiftly extinguished by PSG at Anfield, eliminating Liverpool from Europe for a second consecutive season. The cruelest cut, however, was a season-ending Achilles injury to the impactful Hugo Ekitiké, a signing who had immediately justified his fee.

This starkly contrasts with the fortunes of Liverpool's other major attacking investments. While Ekitiké delivered, both Florian Wirtz and, notably, record-signing Alexander Isak have struggled to find consistent form. Isak arrived from Newcastle for a Premier League-record £125 million amid sky-high expectations, carrying the pedigree of a superstar. His start showed flashes of promise with goals against West Ham, Tottenham, and Southampton, but a broken fibula sidelined him for over three critical months.

Since his return, the Swedish forward has looked a shadow of his former self. Limited to brief substitute appearances against PSG and Fulham, he was notably substituted at halftime during the second leg against the French giants after a languid display. With Ekitiké out and the attack lacking a cutting edge, the spotlight intensifies on Isak to rediscover the form that made him a sensation on Tyneside. As manager Arne Slot likely sticks with a winning formula from the Fulham match ahead of a pivotal Merseyside Derby, the call for Isak to step up and lead the line has never been louder.