Alexander Isak failed to get on the scoresheet for the first time in three matches on Saturday as Sweden beat Bosnia & Herzegovina in the Nations League.
Isak has been in terrific form for Liverpool so far this season, finding the net in back-to-back Premier League games heading into the international break.The chance should have been there for the 27-year-old to score once again after Sweden were awarded two penalties during the match, but Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres stepped up to successfully take them both.
Coming after Isak passed up the opportunity to score from the spot against Newcastle in August, some Liverpool fans may be wondering why their £125m No. 9 is not on penalty duty for either club or country. After the game on Saturday, Gyokeres provided the answer, revealing that he and Isak prefer to split duties, and it was he who was down to take them against Bosnia.
TalkingPointsAlisson and Virgil van Dijk have made costly mistakes in recent weeks. What should Liverpool do with the pair now that their contracts are set to run out in the summer?Keep Van Dijk but get rid of Allison?Keep Allison but get rid of Van Dijk?Keep both?Let both gokilham.maxFeatured comment
Thought this was an insane conversation at the time and that train of thought has not changed a week later. One or two mistakes does not define a player. Both are still top players. They should both be kept – people take for granted how difficult it is to replace players of this calibre.
sylvajoe2000Featured commentKeeping Dem both wuld do us more good than harm We are still rebuilding so we need Dem around to offer support to d young ones Both are still very much good , u can’t count six defenders in EPL without Virgil in it same goes to Allisonjoedgou1963Featured comment
Keep both😂😂😂23 comments
Have your say →Isak wanted to take a penalty against Bosnia & HerzegovinaAt Liverpool, it appears that Dominik Szoboszlai will be the designated penalty taker after Mohamed Salah’s exit, meaning Isak may not often get the chance to practice from 12 yards with the Reds.
Nevertheless, fans would have liked to see him given the opportunity for his country, especially after they were awarded two penalties in one match.
Gyokeres is a prolific goalscorer as well, though, and he told Aftonbladet that it was simply a case of him taking the lead on Saturday night.“I felt like I wanted to take the penalty this time,” he said. “We usually split them up and we have done that in a few games before.
We will do that in the future as well.”Isak and Gyokeres were reportedly seen in discussion before the second spot-kick of the match, and when asked if Isak had wanted to take the second penalty of the match, Gyokeres confirmed that the Liverpool man had indeed put himself forward.
Having already scored the first one, though, the 28-year-old felt confident to go again.“He [Isak] certainly was [wanting to take the penalty], but I was just as keen,” he said. “This time I took it, so we’ll see next time.
”Isak also spoke after the win – in which he had a goal disallowed for a Gyokeres offside – adding: “I’m always keen, but he was listed as a penalty taker so there was nothing to argue about.
”With Szoboszlai risking injury by playing 90 minutes in Hungary’s win over Georgia on Saturday, Isak may well be the chosen taker the next time Liverpool are awarded a penalty in the Premier League.
While he is in this kind of form, it makes sense to boost his goal tally in whatever way possible.
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