In a brutal turn of events that’s left fans buzzing and critics cackling, Liverpool’s high-profile signing Alexander Isak has become the unwitting star of a savage online roast.
The Swedish striker, who joined the Reds in a blockbuster £125 million ($167 million) deal from Newcastle United, appeared in a light-hearted Sky Sports YouTube video – only for the comments section to erupt into a merciless takedown of his dismal form this season.
The video, part of Sky Sports’ Premier League channel content, featured Isak teaming up with Liverpool captain Andy Robertson in a fun challenge called “Pick the Footballer.” The premise was simple: identify the real footballer from a lineup of five contenders. But what started as innocent entertainment quickly turned into a feeding frenzy for trolls, with Isak’s lackluster performances at Anfield serving as the main course.
The most-liked comment set the tone: “I was surprised when I saw Isak was not standing next to the other 5 guys.” It didn’t take long for copycats to pile on. “No one would have guessed Isak was a footballer if he were among the contestants,” quipped another user. “Don’t know the secret footballer yet, but the impostor is definitely the one standing with Robbo,” fired off a third. The hijacking was complete – the comments transformed from casual chit-chat into a full-blown mockery of Isak’s struggles.
And the jabs didn’t stop there. Fans zeroed in on Isak’s woeful stats in the 2025/26 campaign, which has been anything but memorable for the 26-year-old. “Guess the footballer? I can tell you Isak definitely isn’t one with the way he’s playing,” one commenter sniped. Others highlighted his limited game time: “Isak has played more games of Guess the Footballer than games for Liverpool,” and “Isak got more minutes off the pitch than on it.”
It’s hard to blame the fans for their frustration. After arriving with sky-high expectations, Isak has managed just two goals in 15 appearances, with only 10 starts across Liverpool’s 25 games so far. His Premier League expected goals (xG) per 90 minutes sits at a paltry 0.47 – a staggering 40% drop from his prolific days at Newcastle, where he netted 62 goals in 109 outings. Under manager Arne Slot, Isak has been relegated to second-choice striker behind summer sensation Hugo Ekitike, whose red-hot form has only amplified the Swede’s shortcomings.
Recent matches tell the tale. Isak came off the bench for the final 12 minutes in last week’s victory over Brighton, replacing the two-goal hero Ekitike. Midweek in the Champions League, he started alongside the Frenchman in a diamond formation against Inter Milan but was hooked midway through the second half for fellow underperformer Florian Wirtz in a gritty 1-0 win.
Despite the online savagery, not everyone has written off Isak. Tottenham’s center-back Micky van de Ven recently praised him in a Sky Sports interview, naming the Swede as the toughest forward he’s faced. “But this game Isak was different level, so at this point I was like, ‘He’s a top-class player,’” the Dutchman recalled from a recent clash. “He can run in behind, he can come into the ball, and, technically, he’s also really good with the ball. He’s fast, and he has a top finish. So at that point, he was literally just like everywhere.”
Yet, for now, the court of public opinion – or at least the YouTube comments – has delivered a harsh verdict. Liverpool fans, known for their passion and impatience, are demanding more from their record signing. Will Isak turn the tide and silence the trolls? Or will this hijacked comments section be just the beginning of a nightmare season? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure: in the ruthless world of football fandom, no one’s safe from the keyboard warriors.
