Alexander Isak has scored just one Premier League goal since his £125 million transfer from Newcastle United.

Arne Slot believes that it is ‘clear and obvious’ that Liverpool need to do more to supply Alexander Isak in front of goal.

The striker completed a £125 million British record transfer to Anfield from Newcastle United in the summer window. But Isak has so far managed to score only once in the Premier League, which was a deadly finish in last weekend’s 2-0 win over West Ham United.

However, in the 1-1 draw at Sunderland earlier this week, Isak was a peripheral figure. He had only three shots on goal, two of which were blocked, and he had an expected goals score of a meagre 0.07.

Isak plundered 26 goals for Newcastle last season and established himself as one of the best centre-forwards in Europe. Slot believes that Liverpool’s more pragmatic approach in the past two games has meant his team have not created as many opportunities. But getting Isak more openings is something the Reds boss is very much working on.

What’s been said

Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Leeds United, Slot said at his pre-match press conference: “He is not the only No.9 who suffers in some games from not getting many chances. I watched the second half until now from Leeds against City and I watched the whole game against Chelsea.

“At this level, it's not like the No.9 is involved in eight, nine, 10 chances every single half. But it is obvious and clear that we want to bring him into more threatening situations. Before we went to only one goal conceded in two games, we had a lot of chances. As a result, because we are a little bit more compact and not taking as many risks, we have not been able to create as many chances as all of the games before. It is definitely one of the things on my list of things to improve is getting our No.9 more involved in the game and more involved in the final third.”

‘It is more important that they touch the ball in the right times’

Isak has averaged 14 touches per game in his past three starts. He played for 86 minutes against Sunderland yet was largely isolated. Slot insists that he doesn’t care about how many touches Isak has in matches - similar to Erling Haaland at Manchester City - and it’s imperative Liverpool find the Sweden international in the correct areas so he can do damage.

Slot added: “Do you know how many times he touched the ball at Newcastle on average? 22. In this league, strikers don't touch the ball that much but a few times they do touch it, it's quite nice they finish it off. I have no clue what the stats of Haaland are but I wouldn't be surprised. I have no clue, if he doesn't touch it 100 times a game but he does score a lot. It is more important that they touch the ball in the right times than to touch it so many times.

“We have to make sure that's the complete difference between Haaland and Alex; Haaland touches it much more where it matters and that's where we improve. It is clear and obvious.”