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Liverpool striker Alexander Isak has been warned that he will have to "reinvent" himself following his British record transfer to Anfield because opposition teams will be set up to stop him.
After going on strike, Isak forced through a $169 million (£125 million) switch from Newcastle this summer, with Liverpool confirming his arrival on transfer deadline day. Since then, Isak has been getting himself up to speed — and he could play as much as 45 minutes against Atletico Madrid later today in the Champions League.
But the former Chelsea winger Florent Malouda says that Isak is about to face a different challenge after moving to Liverpool. In addition to playing more games, he will also have to get used to opponents having specific tactical plans focused around him.
"Will the fee for Isak impact him? I don't think the transfer fee is an issue, especially for this new generation of players; they are used to these fees," Malouda told Boyle Sports.
"It's not extraordinary. They know there's an expectation. I think for him it's more like going from Newcastle to Liverpool, a team that is used to Champions League football.
"Now you have to play in the Premier League at your best, and three days later you need to play in the Champions League, and then you need to play with your national team.
"So it's a different rhythm of games that you need to digest. For all these elements, you rely on your fitness, your energy, your discipline, and your talent on the pitch, like we say, visible training, invisible training, all this balance.
"You need to be at 150 percent. If you are below this, then the competition is huge.
"The opposition is also huge because every team playing against Liverpool will try to stop him. He's a main threat. So you have to reinvent and adapt yourself."
Isak has only previously played six games in the Champions League (five for Newcastle and one for Borussia Dortmund as a teenager). But he could feature for Liverpool against Atletico Madrid.
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"There is definitely a chance because he's in the squad and the chance to play, I would usually say 99.9 percent sure, but I can say 100 percent sure, he will not play 90 minutes, but he's part of the squad," Arne Slot said on Tuesday.
"It's already a Champions League game to look forward to, but if people look forward to his playing time that could mean that could happen tomorrow as well. The only thing we're sure of is he will not play 90."
Liverpool.com says: European nights at Anfield do not need any extra hype, but Isak potentially being involved will definitely help the atmosphere a touch. If he doesn't feature midweek, he can be expected to play against Everton on Saturday.
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