Alexander Isak sees stark warning ahead of Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid Champions League clash

Alexander Isak has been warned that his £125million price tag will bring a wealth of pressure as he gears up for his Liverpool debut. The Swedish striker was embroiled in an ugly transfer saga between Newcastle United and Liverpool this summer.

While the Magpies initially hoped to retain their talisman for the new Premier League season, Isak insisted that he hoped to explore his options away from St James' Park. What followed was a summer of unrest on Tyneside, as Premier League champions Liverpool vied for his signature for the duration.

Isak faced fierce criticism from the media and pundits alike as a result of his scathing social media statement which accused the Magpies of breaking promises made to him, while insisting that the best course of actions was for all parties involved to move on. However, that didn't prevent Arne Slot from sealing a British-record transfer for the 25-year-old on deadline day.

READ MORE: Arne Slot names Liverpool's new £100m player in fierce response to transfer critics

READ MORE: Arne Slot reveals big Champions League change he would make after Liverpool issue

As a result of missing Newcastle's three opening Premier League fixtures and lacking match sharpness, Isak is yet to make his debut for the Reds, and wasn't even on the bench for his new club's 1-0 win over Burnley at the weekend. However, with Liverpool set to play host to Atletico Madrid at Anfield on Wednesday evening in their opening Champions League outing of 2025/26, Isak could finally enter the fold.

While the pressures of performing in the Champions League can come as crippling for many footballers, former pro and long-time Liverpool fan Adebayo Akinfenwa believes that Isak also has the added weight of his sensational price tag to navigate. Speaking to Mirror Football as part of , the 43-year-old said: "I don't think there'll be a problem whatsoever in regards to players thinking about characteristics or... I don't think there'll be that at all.

"It's just the pressure that now comes with the price tag. I think that's more than anything. Does he hit the ground running? He's a world-class player, I do think football-wise, it's just now how quick he can get up to speed and just handling the different characters in the changing room?"

Elsewhere, Akinfenwa also explained that he sees no major issues with regards to Isak's behaviour this summer as he looked to force a transfer to Liverpool. The striker practically downed tools on Tyneside as claims emerged that he would he had vowed to never represent the Magpies again, regardless of whether he secured a move.

Meanwhile, he missed the club's pre-season tour of Asia and was forced to train solo upon his return to Newcastle as a result of his actions. However, Akinfenwa empathised with Isak with regards to knowing when a player's time at their club has run its course.

He added: "As cynical as it sounds, footballers are hired help, and footballers know that. Don't get the game twisted. When you do sign for a club, the mindset is to do all you can for the club.

"But we also know that when your time has run its course, be it injury, be it lack of form, be it new manager going in a different direction, players know. Players move on. I think the one thing that generally, nine times out of 10, will kind of stay consistent is the club.

"I think it's only maybe one per cent of players who will have that power, to be able to say, 'Look, you know what, I want out.' It's only the one per cent.

"We know clubs generally will constantly have the power, which don't get the game twisted, I understand it. I just feel that when a narrative is pushed like, 'Oh, players do this time and time again.' It's not, it's generally the one per cent that can actually do that."

It comes as Akinfenwa has to become the brand's first-ever Bar Breaker in a brand new campaign. Speaking about his role, Akinfenwa said: "I'm humbled to be the first official Bar Breaker for Tony's Chocolonely.

"You know their ethos, their look, chunky – I hear that people be struggling to break how chunky it is. So they have to come to Mr Beast mode to try and help the nation, both break the bar and then also try and get people to get on board with their mission. So I do think it's a nice fusion, it's a nice balance. The official Bar Breaker."

Adebayo ‘The Beast’ Akinfenwa has been named Tony’s Chocolonely’s first official Bar Breaker. The Beast is motivating the nation to flex their thumb muscles to help more people enjoy more of the chunky, unequally divided bars with ease - ultimately bringing more people along on the brand’s mission to end exploitation in cocoa.

Find out more on the campaign and join the mission via the Tony’s Chocolonely Youtube .

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