Alexander Isak backed to clinch prestigious award BEFORE even kicking a ball for Liverpool

Alexander Isak signs for Liverpool in a British record transfer from Newcastle

All eyes will be on Alexander Isak when he makes his Liverpool debut (Image credit: Getty Images)

Alexander Isak’s long-awaited debut for Liverpool could be just around the corner.

It was the transfer saga of the summer, with Isak going on strike from former employers Newcastle United to force through the record-breaking £125m move.

That’s a lot of pressure on the Sweden international’s shoulders – ranked at no.4 in FourFourTwo's list of the best strikers in the world right now – but the bookies are backing him to hit the ground running.

Alexander Isak backed for individual award ahead of Liverpool debut

Alexander Isak is yet to make his Liverpool debut — Isak was seen in a stadium for the first time since his move while on international duty with Sweden (Image credit: Getty Images)

The 25-year-old has now had his first training session with his new team-mates following the end of the international break, where Isak linked up with Sweden for games against Slovenia and Kosovo.

He’s now eyeing a potential debut, as the Reds travel to Burnley in the Premier League this weekend.

Liverpool's new Swedish forward Alexander Isak arrives at a hotel following the announcement in the evening of September 1 that Liverpool had signed him in a British-record deal, in Stockholm, just after midnight on September 2, 2025. Liverpool signed striker Alexander Isak for a British record fee of &Acirc;&pound;125 million ($169 million) from Newcastle as the Premier League transfer window closed with a flurry of blockbuster moves on September 1. (Photo by Anders WIKLUND / TT NEWS AGENCY / AFP) / Sweden OUT — The Swede will be looking to announce his arrival with a strong performance, whenever Arne Slot opts to hand him his debut (Image credit: Getty Images)

Surrounded by such drama and expectation, it might be expected that Isak would need some time to settle in, but the bookies have him down to make an instant impact this season.

At William Hill, the Swede has joined Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah as the joint 8/1 favourite to lift this season’s PFA Player of the Year award, despite his delayed start to the campaign.

In a further vote of confidence, the oddsmakers have him at just 8/11 to score on his Liverpool debut and 10/11 to outscore Salah in the league this season.

There’s plenty of excitement to watch how Isak gets on (outside St James’ Park, that is), and it’s clear the bookies are backing it to go pretty well.

Mohamed Salah was Liverpool's kingpin as he fired the Reds to glory last season — Isak is already battling with new team-mate Mohamed Salah to become the favourite for the PFA award (Image credit: Getty Images)

The stage could not be better set for Isak to kick on.

Playing for the Premier League champions, under a manager who’s now done it before, around players like Salah, Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz and Alexis Mac Allister.

It all feels a little too good to be true, doesn’t it? Football has a habit of throwing up surprises, and while FourFourTwo believes Isak will do well this season, we expect there might be an adjustment period for the Swede, and Liverpool as a whole, before everything comes together.

Isak is valued at €120m, according to Transfermarkt. Liverpool next travel to Burnley, when Premier League action returns this weekend.

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Isaac Stacey Stronge is a freelance football writer working for FourFourTwo, Manchester United and Football League World. He has been a season ticket holder at Stockport County throughout the Hatters’ meteoric rise from the National League North to League One and is a die-hard Paddy Madden fan.

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