Alexander Isak backed to be 'major force' at Liverpool after World Cup heroics

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"He needs to play football matches – he's not played!" Thompson said."Because he had controversy last pre-season, he never got a pre-season. If you don't have that under your belt, then you come back, and you're playing catch-up.Isak is aiming to have a big second season at Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)"Then you're trying to be bit-fed into the side, because everyone wants to see him, but you can't [play him], and then you risk injury."He comes back, he gets an injury, then against Spurs, he gets a broken leg.

And all of this intertwines, so you're not fully fit."He's not had enough games. He's never been fit enough."Allardyce concurred that Isak requires regular game time to find his rhythm and is confident the striker can make a significant impression at Liverpool during his second campaign."The World Cup's a good thing for him.

If he plays every game, that's good for Liverpool, as it gives him some catch-up time against the rest," said the former Everton and one-time England boss."He can really benefit from the games, because he's not tired. He's not fatigued, as he hasn't done anything this season because of [the injuries]."It'll be a good thing if he plays all the games and how far they go, then it links into pre-season with Liverpool and then he could be a major force next season."Isak will face several familiar figures when Sweden squares off against Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch, and Cody Gakpo's Netherlands side in the upcoming World Cup fixture in Houston, Texas, on Saturday.