Liverpool waiting for the real Alexander Isak after Chelsea defeat

€145m record signing 

Liverpool spent a club-record €482.9million this summer and nearly a third of that went towards the capture of Alexander Isak from Newcastle United. But in his first big-game occasion in Liverpool colours, the towering striker struggled to impress and remains without a Premier League goal for his new club after a 2-1 defeat to Chelsea. Reds head coach Arne Slot appeared to turn his back on some of his summer signings for the crunch clash, with Hugo Ekitiké, Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong only making the bench for Saturday's game at Stamford Bridge. On the back of consecutive defeats to Crystal Palace and Galatasaray, Slot would have been hoping for a reaction against Chelsea. But his side started in similarly sloppy fashion, going behind to Moises Caicedo's 25-yard effort before Cody Gakpo levelled in the 63rd minute. But substitute Estêvão scored a dramatic 96th-minute winner to condemn the Reds to a third defeat in the space of a week.

Player Focus: Alexander Isak

Isak got the nod up front ahead of Ekitiké and led the line, with Gakpo to his left and Mohamed Salah - facing his former club - on the right flank as always. As Chelsea dominated possession early on, the Sweden international endured a very quiet opening quarter of the game, with no shots attempted and only 11 touches inside the first half an hour of play. A lot of the time, he could be seen chasing shadows while Josh Acheampong and Benoit Badiashile passed amongst each other at the back. Liverpool, on the whole, were far from their potent best - but Isak looked a touch off the pace. That was evident when Salah, on a rare foray into the Chelsea half, tried to conjure up a clever through pass to Isak - one for which the Egyptian is renowned. But his strike partner didn't read the situation and the chance came to nothing. There was a palpable difference in wavelengths, and it seems there are still some teething issues for the Swede as he adjusts to his new club - and status - at Anfield as Liverpool's record signing.

Just before the interval, he finally got his first sight of goal. Salah crafted a perfect delivery with a sublime trivela - using the outside of his left foot to curl it in - but Isak's header flew over the crossbar. It was perhaps the only moment of the first 45 minutes where he managed to escape Acheampong's attention and find a half-yard of space. Having scored on his last two visits to Stamford Bridge, Isak would have fancied a chance to extend that run with his new club. But the second half began in the same fashion: quiet off the ball, ineffective on it. Heavy touches were followed by groans from the away support and ironic cheers from the home fans. Ironically, one of those sloppy touches proved to be important for Liverpool, as Isak brought down Salah's deflected cross and the loose ball rolled to Gakpo, who stabbed home from close range. It was technically an assist, although how deliberate the touch was only he knows. But it was a goal contribution at the very least before he was replaced with 73 minutes on the clock.

Market value analysis

Expectations are high of Isak after completing a polarising switch from Newcastle United. You don't cost €145m without taking a shoulder's load of pressure with it, from the fans, media and also colleagues inside the club. You also don't have a market value of €120m without being one of the world's best. Part of Isak's slow start can be attributed to his absence during pre-season, a point that has been referenced often by Slot when quizzed about Isak's gradual introduction. Of course, more questions will be asked about his involvement if Ekitike continues to be left out, having scored four goals this season already. No one doubts Isak's ability to find the net, having scored 22 goals last season. Here, he created one when Liverpool badly needed it. Going forward, he will need to pose more of a threat or risk having critics get on his back quicker than he would have expected.