Isak’s brace fires Liverpool to first Iraola win, but boss insists: “I want more than just goals"
Andoni Iraola has suggested he will demand more than goals from Alexander Isak after the forward's goalscoring start to the season.
Isak scored twice as Liverpool secured the first win of Iraola's reign with a 2-0 victory at Ipswich Town on Friday night. The Swedish striker struck twice inside the opening nine minutes, as Liverpool's early pace took the game away from the promoted side.
Isak is aiming to bounce back from a tough first season at Liverpool, hindered by a lack of pre-season and serious injury.
He has scored three times in three Premier League appearances, already matching his league haul from last season. Isak's three goals see him lead the early Golden Boot standings, alongside Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes.
Iraola was asked whether Liverpool are now beginning to see the player the club thought they had signed in a £125m British record deal last summer.
“My demands with Alex will not be about the goals” — Iraola urges Isak to fuel Liverpool’s all-round play after Ipswich brace
The Spaniard said he is confident Isak will produce numbers, but said he wants more than just goals from the 26-year-old.
"Yes, with Alex, if he's fit, if he's available, if he's in good shape, I think he will produce the numbers," Iraola said at his post-match press conference.
"My demands with Alex will not be about the goals, probably. It will be about other things, I will demand other things so we can play well and if we play well, we are in good positions, the goals will come.
"I think he has to contribute to the collective and when everyone helps, I think after the goals and the other stuff will come."
Iraola added that he was delighted to get his first Premier League win after starting the season with successive draws. He praised Liverpool for their swift start at Portman Road.
"Yes, very pleased with the win, obviously. We needed this win and as well with the performance – especially [in the] first half we have been a very good team. We put a lot of pressure to the opposition and I think we started really strong in the game.
"I think that we learned, probably, the lessons from the last two games where we conceded early goals and today we didn't want this to happen, and we were really strong in the first half. In the second half also, I think in a different way. We controlled the game, we defended well, but we didn't have this threat offensively, probably. But overall, I think it's a game to finish quite pleased [about]."
