NEWCASTLE, England — Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has described Alexander Isak’s performance against Newcastle United as a “good step,” despite the forward failing to get on the scoresheet in Sunday’s 2-2 draw at St. James’ Park.
Isak was given a hostile reception on his return to his former club, whom he left to join Liverpool in a £125 million ($171m) deal last summer. While the 26-year-old had few clear chances on Tyneside, the game marks the first time he has completed a full 90 minutes for the Reds — something Iraola believes is a big positive.
“I think he expected a little bit the atmosphere,” Iraola said in his post-match news conference. “It’s not a big surprise for him. He has tried everything. He has given us good positions on the ball, probably has had a couple of situations to finish inside the box but probably not the clearest we wanted.
“But I value that he has continued pushing and fighting in the game and I think it was a good step for Alex.”
Liverpool twice went behind against Newcastle and looked on course to begin the Iraola era with a defeat before Dominik Szoboszlai expertly dispatched a penalty in the ninth minute of stoppage time.
“Because we scored at the end you have a better taste,” Iraola said. “Before the game, we wouldn’t have signed for this result probably. But it is a reward because we put a lot of pressure on Newcastle and we had to wait until the end. I think we have done more than enough to score that goal. If we’d have scored earlier, probably the run of the game was for us.
“They tell me the stats are more for us, in terms of chances and creating more, but it’s true they could say that they were winning so they don’t need to push and were defending their result.
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“In terms of putting pressure [on Newcastle], in the first half we haven’t finished the things, we are on the edge of the box and inside the box where we haven’t finished the play and not had a shot. They scored their first goal because we didn’t finish it and they have a chance.
“The second half we were more decisive, the goal from Cody [Gakpo] but also we put a lot more pressure, more set plays, more crosses, more things inside the box. It’s a reward, it’s only a point but at least it’s something that’s deserved.”
