Liverpool's Struggles Continue: Isak's Insights on Team's Fighting Spirit

Alexander Isak did not hide behind the noise of Anfield or the late drama. A 2-2 draw with Forest, a rousing comeback, a point salvaged – and still, a blunt verdict.

Fighting spirit is not enough.

Liverpool’s new spearhead cut through the feel‑good gloss after a chaotic afternoon on Merseyside, insisting that character alone will not carry Andoni Iraola’s side through a turbulent start to the season. The Reds are still waiting for their first league win under the Spaniard, and the tension around this tactical reboot is starting to tighten.

Slow start, same problems

Liverpool drifted through the opening stages. The tempo Iraola demands never really surfaced, and Forest sensed weakness. Midway through the first half, Dan Ndoye punished the lethargy, quietening Anfield and exposing a back line that again looked vulnerable when stretched.

Isak’s assessment was as sharp as his finishing.

"I think there's no problem in fighting spirit and never giving up. I think we showed that last week as well. Obviously we started the game pretty bad today as well. When we gained momentum by scoring a goal, that's where we need to be better, I think, because again today we conceded quite quickly after that," he told TNT Sports.

That pattern is what stings. Liverpool drag themselves back into contests, only to surrender control almost immediately.

Isak delivers, but Forest hit back

On the hour, Anfield finally erupted. Isak, carrying the weight of a new era in attack, struck with the kind of clinical edge Liverpool are banking on. His finish hauled the hosts level and seemed to flip the momentum.

It didn’t last.

Forest hit back almost at once, Morgan Gibbs-White restoring the visitors’ lead from the penalty spot and plunging Liverpool back into anxiety. The comeback narrative had barely begun before it was ripped up.

The Reds did find a late equaliser to claw out a point, showing the resilience Isak referenced. Yet his message was clear: resolve without control is not a strategy.

Burden of the No 9

The Swede knows exactly what is expected of him. He has walked into Anfield as the focal point, the man meant to turn half‑chances into wins and give shape to Iraola’s high‑octane blueprint.

"Yeah, of course. That's the job ultimately as a striker," he said when asked about the extra responsibility. "Obviously I'm very happy to score the first one and hopefully it just keeps coming."

There was no talk of personal targets, no chase for golden boots or headline numbers.

"Not really. I think every striker wants to score in every game he plays."

The message: goals, yes – but goals that actually tilt results, not just decorate flawed performances.

Adjusting to Iraola

The shift from the previous regime to Iraola’s relentless, high‑intensity style has been one of the early themes of Liverpool’s season. The Spaniard’s work at Bournemouth and Rayo Vallecano built his reputation on structure, aggression and clear tactical demands. Right now, his new squad is still learning the choreography.

"It's been good. There's always time to get used to a new playing style and a new manager. But we are really working hard to try to play the game he wants us to play and I think when we start doing that better, I have no doubt that the results will come," Isak noted.

The conviction is there. The execution, less so. Periods of pressure are undermined by lapses at the back, especially in transition, where Liverpool continue to look exposed.

Anfield holds its nerve

If there was one unshakable positive, it came from the stands. Back at Anfield, Liverpool were again wrapped in the familiar roar, even as the performance veered between sluggish and frantic.

"It was amazing. I think our fans were amazing. Really happy to be back here at home and I can't wait to be back here again," Isak said, clearly energised by his first taste of this new chapter in front of the Kop.

The supporters stayed with them. The question is how long that patience lasts if the winless run stretches on.

Liverpool now head to Ipswich Town in midweek, needing more than emotion and late rallies. They need control. They need a first league victory under Iraola. And they need it fast.