{"id":265664,"date":"2026-10-03T07:15:11","date_gmt":"2026-10-03T07:15:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/03\/liverpool-have-found-a-player-who-could-rob-the-number-9-shirt-from-isak\/"},"modified":"2026-10-03T07:15:11","modified_gmt":"2026-10-03T07:15:11","slug":"liverpool-have-found-a-player-who-could-rob-the-number-9-shirt-from-isak","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/03\/liverpool-have-found-a-player-who-could-rob-the-number-9-shirt-from-isak\/","title":{"rendered":"Liverpool have found a player who could rob the number 9 shirt from Isak"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

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Devoid of a pre-season, prior to being cut in half by Micky van de Ven, Liverpool<\/a>‘s Alexander Isak<\/a> simply never got going in 2025\/26.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Of course, his fitness woes were in part self-inflicted amid his Newcastle United exile last summer, yet even so, it always felt like the Swede was chasing his tail, left playing catch-up after a delayed start to life at Anfield.<\/p>\n

Thankfully, the \u00a3125m man<\/a> is beginning to make up for lost time under this new Andoni Iraola regime, scoring four goals across the first five Premier League games of the season.<\/p>\n

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\n <\/picture>Reuters\/Paul Childs<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

He finally appears to have found his scoring touch again, yet will injury again hamper his momentum on Merseyside?<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n What’s the situation with Isak’s Sweden withdrawal?<\/strong>
\n <\/h2>\n

Following the draw with former club Newcastle United on the opening weekend, in which Isak spurned the chance to take that stoppage-time penalty, it felt like it could be one of those seasons again for the 25-year-old.<\/p>\n

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\n \"Alexander\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

A tap-in against Nottingham Forest has got him going since then, however, seemingly striking up a fruitful partnership with Cody Gakpo as the pair again twice combined against Ipswich Town.<\/p>\n

The difference-maker away at Bournemouth, Isak looked to have maintained his hot streak with his country too, firing home in Sweden’s Nations League win over Romania.<\/p>\n

Alas, his delight proved short-lived as it was revealed post-match that he had sustained a thigh injury, one that will see him miss his country’s remaining Nations League games this month.<\/p>\n

National team boss, Graham Potter, suggested it was only a “small problem”, with the decision for Isak to return to Merseyside only taken due to the right turnaround of games.<\/p>\n

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\n \"Alexander-Isak-Sweden-Liverpool\"\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Even so, with the return to Premier League action just over a week away, that will still be of concern to Iraola, not least after all the issues faced by the striker last season.<\/p>\n

Equally too, with Hugo Ekitike still stepping up his return to action, there isn’t a standout centre-forward alternative, even with Lewis Koumas earning rave reviews of late.<\/p>\n

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\n \"most\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Perhaps it might be an opportunity for Iraola to thrust Liverpool’s future number nine into the limelight instead.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n Why Liverpool might already have the future number 9<\/strong>
\n <\/h2>\n

Looking back to the likes of Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler, the academy ranks have so often provided gold dust when it comes to modern-day Liverpool strikers.<\/p>\n

There is hope that the aforementioned Koumas can be a breakout star this season, the 21-year-old already something of a fan favourite due to his relentless work ethic and pressing ability.<\/p>\n

Whether he can prove a consistent threat in front of goal remains to be seen, however, having notably scored just four Championship goals last season.<\/p>\n

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\n \"lewis-koumas-birmingham-city-hull\"\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

In terms of who might actually be the player to rival Isak for that number shirt later down the line, that honour falls to 18-year-old goal machine, Will Wright, the teenager ripping it up again at academy level.<\/p>\n

The former Salford City starlet has already scored six times in just six games in all competitions this season, five of which have come in just four Premier League 2 outings.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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Premier League 2 – Top Scorers<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Player<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

Club<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

Goals<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

\n

Carrick Njinko<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Leeds United<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

6<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Will Wright<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Liverpool<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

5<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Reggie Watson<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Chelsea<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Cruz Ibeh<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Middlesbrough<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Jayden Quashie<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Fulham<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Josh Landers<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

West Ham United<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Kaye Furo<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Brentford<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Princewill Ehibhatiomhan<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Southampton<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Trey Samuel-Ogunsuyi<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Sunderland<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Brandon Pouani<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Burnley<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n

He currently ranks among the leading scorers in that competition, a fine achievement considering he is already operating at U21 level at the age of just 18.<\/p>\n

For Liverpool’s U21 side in general, he boasts a record of 18 goals and assists in just 21 games, having previously made four first-team appearances back at Salford.<\/p>\n

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\n
\"Will-Wright-Liverpool\"\n <\/picture>REUTERS\/Phil Noble<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

He didn’t score at that level for the Class of 92-owned club, but boy was he prolific at youth level, scoring 40-plus goals in 2024\/25, prior to sealing a \u00a3200k switch to Anfield.<\/p>\n

Premier League rivals Arsenal had been hot on his heels at the time of the move, yet snapping Wright up for a relative bargain fee looks like particularly astute business for FSG.<\/p>\n

That point was only recently reinforced even further following his exploits against Rochdale in the EFL Trophy, embarking on a stunning solo run that included an outrageous nutmeg inside the area.<\/p>\n

He duly finished with aplomb into the roof of the net, showcasing all the signs of a player who might get his chance in the senior ranks before too long.<\/p>\n

Isak better watch out, Liverpool’s future number nine is looking just as menacing in front of goal right now.<\/p>\n