The Athletic FC Podcast

Episode: Does Isak Make Liverpool Unstoppable?

Date: September 1, 2025
Host: Ayo Akinwolere
Guests: James Pearce (Liverpool correspondent), Adam Crafton (Reporter)
Key Focus: Liverpool’s blockbuster signing of Alexander Isak, their transfer window strategy, implications for both Liverpool and Newcastle, Arne Slot’s impact, and early season reflections.

Episode Overview

This episode dissects Liverpool’s seismic £130 million signing of Alexander Isak, explores whether this turbocharges their dominance, and examines the enormous rebuild both on Merseyside and at Newcastle United. The panel (Ayo Akinwolere, James Pearce, Adam Crafton) unpacks Liverpool’s lavish spending, the transformation of their recruitment strategy, and the managerial style of Arne Slot. Meanwhile, the show offers a Tyneside perspective on what Isak’s loss means for Newcastle and surveys early signs for the new Premier League campaign.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Alexander Isak Transfer: Inevitable or Hard-Fought?

[01:35-04:11]

• James Pearce on the negotiation saga & Newcastle’s change of heart:

  • "You wondered whether Newcastle might, you know, the Saudi owners might dig their heels in ... but that meeting between Isak and the hierarchy at Newcastle ... the tone just seemed to change" [02:15].
  • Newcastle’s pre-spending on Volta signaled intent to sell Isak.
  • Ultimately, "a real saga to get to this" but "a sense of inevitability" in the end.

• Adam Crafton on Liverpool’s window:

  • “On paper, at least, probably the most spectacular single window... I can never really remember.” [03:18]
  • Notes Liverpool’s ability to make decent money on outgoing players despite the tragic loss of Jota.

How Are Liverpool Affording This?

[04:11-07:29]

• James Pearce:

  • Over £200 million generated via high-profile sales (Diaz, Nunez, Kelleher, Quansah).
  • Marked shift from buying potential to buying the “finished article”: “The biggest change this summer is with Florian Wirtz and now Alexander Isak... two mega deals, shattering the British transfer record. Massive show of ambition.” [04:27]
  • Commercial juggernaut status, Anfield’s 61,000 capacity, and accumulated prize money.

• Adam Crafton:

  • Adidas now consider Liverpool as Man United’s main challenger globally: “Within Adidas... Liverpool could be that challenger globally.” [06:11]
  • Signings now at “the top of the market”—a new mode for Liverpool, with huge expectations to match.

Pressure and Expectations

[07:29-09:01]

• Ayo (Host): With talk of Arsenal’s challenge, and more Liverpool business possible, “the pressure’s on to retain the Premier League.”
• James Pearce: “When you spend that amount of money... there is pressure to deliver, isn’t there?” [07:42]
  • Notes the challenge of bedding in new signings but the excellent start (three wins from three, including tough fixtures).
  • “You’re throwing in Alexander Isak... arguably the most complete center forward in world football. So it’s a hell of a platform to build on.” [08:32]

The Newcastle View: Loss of a Star and Strategic Worry

[09:01-11:19]

• Producer’s Tyneside Segment:

  • Newcastle gain squad balance and closure, but lose a “world class player.”
  • The club’s stance that Isak was “not for sale” ends up “a terrible look,” with the sale blamed on ownership’s lack of direction and key vacancies.
  • “It feels like romance has withered.” [11:00]

• Adam Crafton: Offers perspective on player sales:

  • “It’s the situation every team may find themselves in at a certain point ... no fan likes it when it happens to them. A lot of fans depend on it when they benefit from it.” [11:19]
  • Suggests £130 million is a fine return; reinvestment may ultimately help Newcastle.

Liverpool vs. Arsenal – Big Match Recap

[15:24-19:04]

• Memorable Moment: Dominik Szoboszlai’s “Gerrard-esque” free kick wins it.

  • James Pearce: “It was a piece of individual brilliance... I’m struggling to think of a better one. I mean, it wears the Liverpool number eight shirt; it was Gerrard-esque... impossible to hit a football sweeter than that.” [15:52]

• Notes that the match was tense and scrappy; Liverpool’s defense improved.

• Szoboszlai’s success at right back discussed, with future rotation likely.

• Adam Crafton: Critiques the quality of the match:

  • “Awful. It wasn’t kind of a fascinating tactical duel... It was just a poor game. I mean, you’re waiting for something to happen...” [19:06]
  • “Arsenal actually had higher xG ... Most big six teams don’t win that many against top sides away from home.”
  • Warns against overreacting to Arsenal’s defeat.

Style, Fluidity, and Slot’s Adaptability

[24:35-31:12]

• Pearce: Pre-season uninterrupted by major tournaments helped Slot. Early business gave new faces time to bed in, although “it was a bit chaotic the first two wins.”

  • “This is a group of players still dealing with an unbelievable amount of grief having lost, you know, a much-loved friend and teammate in Diogo Jota.” [25:32]

• Crafton: On why Liverpool hired Slot:

  • “He’s not afraid of [change]. But it’s not easy... to lose six or seven players and bring in six or seven, keep expectations really, really high and defend a Premier League title.” [27:08]
  • Slot’s style described as more “Manchester City” due to the technical profile of new signings like Wirtz.

• Pearce: Slot’s authenticity, composure, and ability to manage upheaval.

  • "He is very calm and composed... when he lost his rag at Goodison… it was like oh wow, he's human." [29:44]
  • Slot himself, on squad churn: "I lost 14 players at Feyenoord one summer. He said, this is nothing compared to that."

Managing the New-Look Squad: Isak, Ekitike & Competition

[31:12-34:14]

• Pearce: Last season’s fatigue highlighted Slot’s regret at not rotating; hence a deeper squad and positional versatility now.

  • "He's also talked about Ekitike being able to play off the left. He's also talked about potentially playing two up front." [31:26]
  • Over 60 games expected this season, so enough chances for all.

• Crafton: Flags upcoming selection headaches:

  • “If Isak keeps getting the nod in the games that players want to play in ... that's going to be a really tricky one to manage because there'll be a point at which someone turns around and says, I'm not playing in the games I want to play in.” [32:56]

Final Takeaways & The Wild Premier League

[34:39-36:12]

• Adam Crafton’s One-Minute Reflection:
  • “This Premier League season is just completely wild, isn’t it? ... City have lost two games, Spurs got turned over by Bournemouth, West Ham are useless but just won, Bournemouth sold all their players but keep performing ... All of us and all our narratives...” [34:44-35:39]
  • Burst of commentary on the unpredictable start, ending with a transfer rumor about Villa’s interest in Jadon Sancho.

Notable Quotes

• James Pearce on Liverpool’s evolution:
  "The biggest change this summer is with Florian Wirtz and now Alexander Isak... two mega deals, shattering the British transfer record. Massive show of ambition." [04:27]

• Adam Crafton on expectations:
  “What it does do is it creates a huge expectation, play some mind games... if Liverpool don’t win the league this season, you'd be hugely disappointed, I imagine.” [06:54]

• James Pearce on Szoboszlai’s free kick:
  "It was Gerrard-esque really because it's just impossible to think of hitting a football sweeter than that." [15:52]

• Tyneside view on Isak’s departure:
  “It feels like romance has withered.” [11:00]

• Adam Crafton on the unpredictable season:
  "All of us and all our narratives that we keep coming up with to make podcasts like this." [35:39]

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:35: Introduction of guests & Isak deal background
• 02:15: James Pearce: Timeline and inevitability of Isak deal
• 03:18: The scale of Liverpool’s transfer window (Adam Crafton)
• 04:27: Liverpool’s funding and new ambitions (Pearce)
• 07:42: The pressure on Liverpool to win the league
• 09:12: Newcastle’s perspective post-Isak
• 11:19: Adam Crafton on realities of player sales
• 15:36: Recap of Szoboszlai’s stunning winner vs Arsenal
• 18:16: Szoboszlai’s new right-back role
• 19:06: Adam Crafton’s critique of the Liverpool-Arsenal match
• 24:50: Slot’s adaptability and pre-season preparation
• 27:08: Rationale for hiring Slot, managing change (Crafton)
• 29:44: Slot’s calm, authentic style (Pearce)
• 31:26: Managing squad depth and rotation with Isak and Ekitike
• 32:56: Crafton on the challenge of squad management
• 34:44: Adam Crafton’s season reflection – the chaos of early results

Tone & Original Language

The conversation is analytical but lively and candid, with reverence for Liverpool’s transformation but a healthy skepticism about the pressures and pitfalls ahead. The show blends sharp reporting with banter, maintaining a conversational and insightful tone true to The Athletic’s house style.

Summary

In this pivotal episode, The Athletic FC Podcast navigates the highs and uncertainties of Liverpool’s extraordinary summer, crowned by the acquisition of Alexander Isak. The panel explores tactical, financial, and emotional layers: from the Anfield boardroom’s rare show of financial might and Arne Slot’s understated authority to Newcastle’s regret and readjustment. On the pitch, Liverpool’s start has been effective but not dazzling—a team still finding maximum “fluidity,” but with enough resilience and brilliance (notably Szoboszlai’s stunner) to stay ahead. The season promises more chaos, drama, and shifting narratives—just the way Premier League fans like it.