Alexander Isak, Newcastle’s £116 million capture whose dazzling promise had excited Anfield since July, found himself at the center of Slot’s fury after a ghostly first-half showing. Hauled off at the break, his 45 minutes stood in stark contrast to the goal-laden spectacle erupting around him.
Liverpool’s Champions League revival was forged with German resilience. After Rasmus Kristensen’s early goal put Frankfurt ahead, Hugo Ekitike struck back with a poacher’s effort against his former club. Then Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté towered over the defense to nod home two corners—an ironic twist given Slot’s recent complaints about “set-piece luck.” Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai added the finishing touches after halftime, sealing Frankfurt’s fate and snapping Liverpool’s four-match slump. Yet, amid the jubilation, Slot’s mood soured at the mention of Isak. The Swede, intended to supercharge the attack, managed just 18 touches, no shots, and several wayward passes that spoke of disinterest.
“A complete flop, an embarrassment, a waste of hype—a massive letdown for this club,” Slot raged to TNT Sports, abandoning his usual calm. “His mentality was off, his choices amateurish, and his attitude toxic for a dressing room like ours.” Despite the emphatic win, Isak’s lethargy didn’t escape notice. Slot warned that “our standards don’t drop just because the scoreline flatters us,” questioning whether the striker’s cool demeanor masked a softness unsuited to Liverpool’s intensity. Fans on X dubbed the saga “The Isak Inquisition,” flooding feeds with memes and clips of his halftime walk of shame.
This wasn’t mere anger—Slot had envisioned Isak’s pace and elegance complementing Ekitike’s work rate, but the partnership still looks raw despite their combined £200m price tag. “He’s got the tools, just not the fire,” Slot admitted, hinting at time on the bench. Still, amid the euphoria, his message was clear: no one is safe under his reign. Liverpool roll forward, but for Isak, the road to redemption has only just begun. YNWA—or for him, maybe, YN-start-proving-it
