Blockbuster clash is Isak's opportunity to find scoring boots

Patience is no virtue in modern football. Ange Postecoglou, fired after a mere 39 days in charge of Nottingham Forest, is the latest manager to find there is no such thing as bedding in these days.

- John Brewin

Liverpool manager Arne Slot says Alexander Isak (above) is getting close to the level he should be and "we can judge him in a fair way from now". PHOTO: REUTERS

(REUTERS)

For players, particularly those who arrive for big transfer fees, patience is in yet shorter supply.

Take the examples of Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz at Liverpool. Together, they cost their new club almost £250 million (S$434 million), and their main achievement so far is to imbalance what was previously an efficient, title-winning attack.

As defenders, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong are being granted more grace, the latter having suffered an injury. Of Liverpool’s summer signings, only Hugo Ekitike has flourished, though problematically for Isak, he has done so as a centre-forward.