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Nacho Monreal has thrown his support behind Alexander Isak, predicting that the striker will soon silence his critics at Liverpool after a slow start to his career with the Reds.
Isak made a record-breaking move from Newcastle to Anfield on transfer deadline day in September. However, the 26-year-old has only found the back of the net once in eight appearances since donning the red jersey, with fitness and injury issues disrupting his transition from his time with the Magpies.
Isak essentially downed tools to force a move away from St. James' Park over the summer, training solo for most of preseason and not featuring in any of Newcastle's friendly matches or opening Premier League fixtures.
Finally securing his desired move to Liverpool, Isak was left playing catch-up due to his disjointed preseason, with both Liverpool and Sweden managing his game time carefully as a result. However, his progress hit a roadblock when he was forced off at half-time during Liverpool's win over Eintracht Frankfurt last month.
After missing four matches, Isak returned to the matchday squad as an unused substitute in the Reds' 3-0 defeat to Manchester City before the November international break. He then made his return from injury as a substitute for Sweden in the team's 4-1 loss to Switzerland, but was left on the bench against Slovenia to avoid the risk of suspension.
Former Arsenal defender Monreal spent two seasons as Isak's team-mate at Real Sociedad, with the pair making 65 appearances together across the 2019-20 and 2020-21 campaigns.
The Spaniard acknowledges it has been challenging for the Swede at Liverpool thus far, as he continues to face criticism for his modest contribution at Anfield relative to his substantial transfer fee.
However, having witnessed his quality at close quarters, Monreal has no doubt that Isak will soon find the net to silence his detractors once and for all and re-establish himself as one of the Premier League's elite forwards.
"It’s been very difficult for Alexander [Isak]," Monreal conceded to BetMGM. "He clearly wanted to go to Liverpool at the start of the summer transfer window.
“The fact it didn’t happen until right at the end meant he didn’t get a preseason, which has clearly had a big impact on his fitness.
“He’s not at his top level yet and still needs minutes on the pitch to get up to that top, top level, but when he gets there, I have no doubt he’ll prove he’s one of the best strikers in the Premier League.
“He has done it for Newcastle over the last few seasons, and he’s going to do the same for Liverpool. I’ve seen first-hand how much quality he has, and it’s just a matter of time before he shows it in a red shirt.
“In my opinion, he’s a brilliant signing for Liverpool. He needs time to get fit, but when that happens, people will see what he can do. They paid a lot of money for him, but I don’t think you can say he’s a waste of money or anything like that.
“When you bring in a top, top striker like Isak, you are going to have to pay big money for them – I doubt that when he starts scoring 20 plus goals a season, many will talk about the transfer fee.”
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