Alexander Isak has described his move to Liverpool as an obvious choice, saying there was never a moment of doubt about leaving Newcastle United for Anfield.

The Sweden international joined Liverpool on transfer deadline day in September 2025, becoming the most expensive player in British football history at £125 million. "Liverpool is a massive club, and everything about the club made it pretty clear," Isak told BBC Sport's The Football Interview. "The club's ambition and their will to get me in — that was a big part of it."

A difficult first season

Isak's debut campaign at Anfield was far from smooth. He missed pre-season entirely, spending that period training at former club Real Sociedad amid uncertainty over his Newcastle United future — uncertainty he attributed to promises that had been "broken" at the club.

Once settled at Liverpool, goals proved elusive, and a leg break sustained in December ruled him out until April. Despite those setbacks, the 26-year-old insists he never had second thoughts. "No, never. I would never think like that," he said when asked whether he regretted the transfer.

"It was tough — anyone who's been through a long injury would know," he added. "But when you're in a good place and feeling good, you don't tend to look back, because it doesn't benefit you. I'm just looking forward, feeling optimistic and excited about what this season can bring."

World Cup redemption

The summer offered Isak a chance to rebuild his rhythm. He made his FIFA World Cup debut for Sweden, appearing across 22 games for Liverpool last season — amounting to just 1,032 minutes — before heading to the tournament. He scored once and contributed three assists for Graham Potter's side before Sweden were eliminated by France in the last 32.

"Playing for your country in a World Cup is a dream for most people," said Isak. "With the injuries last season, the World Cup was perfect. I had that period where I could play and gain rhythm and form, and on top of that it was a massive experience — perfect preparation to come back for pre-season and start the season here."

Iraola's pressing philosophy

New Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola, who replaced Arne Slot in the summer, has given Isak a clear directive: defend from the front. Isak embraces the idea, framing pressing not as a defensive chore but as a goal-scoring tool.

"He asks me to defend in positions where, when we win the ball, we can counter quickly and get the ball forward to the offensive line," Isak explained. "The way we defend — we defend to score goals. So defending, in the end, is an attacking weapon."

Liverpool have already made the most sprints in the Premier League this season, a reflection of Iraola's front-foot approach. Isak believes the high-intensity style suits both him and the squad. "It's not just about getting the ball to me — it's about getting the ball forward to all of the offensive players quickly. If we can do that, we should score more goals."

Targets and trophies

Now with 60 Premier League goals to his name, Isak is focused on collective success rather than personal milestones. His finest individual season came at Newcastle United in 2024-25, when he netted 23 Premier League goals. This term, he has already matched last season's Liverpool tally of three league goals in just four appearances.

"Everyone knows that success for this club is winning trophies," said Isak. "I want to score every game. Some players like to set targets — I'm not one of them."