The Reasons Behind the Poor Report Cards of New Premier League Strikers

If likened to the weather, the summer transfer window of the English Premier League feels overcast. Trillions of rupiah have been spent by English clubs to bring in world-class strikers. This overcast sky seems to signal the impending rain of goals.

Seven weeks have passed, and the goals have yet to come. Instead, anxiety has emerged. Liverpool's new striker, Alexander Isak, can represent this phenomenon. Acquired for a record-breaking transfer fee in the Premier League, amounting to Rp 2.8 trillion, he has only scored one goal in six matches across all competitions.

The only goal was scored against Southampton, a second division team, in the English League Cup match. Isak was purchased from Newcastle United as a prolific striker who netted 44 goals in the last two seasons in the league. Instead of acquiring a hungry lion, Liverpool has so far only had a tame cat.

Liverpool's rival, Arsenal, is not much different. After years without a pure striker, they welcomed Viktor Gyokeres this season. His sharpness is beyond doubt. Gyokeres has just won the Gerd Muller Trophy 2025, an award for the best striker in the world over the course of a year.

At the Portuguese club, Sporting CP, Gyokeres has scored 97 goals in the last two seasons. There is not a single striker in Europe who comes close to that record. The problem is, football is not just a number in a Microsoft Excel column that can be copied and pasted with a single click.

Gyokeres did manage to score three goals in the first four league matches. However, he has experienced a goal drought in the last six matches across all competitions. From being an unstoppable locomotive in the Portuguese League, the striker now resembles a heavy cargo truck that appears very rigid in the English League.

There are also other names such as Benjamin Sesko (Manchester United), Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool), and Nick Woltemade (Newcastle). The three of them are also included in the list of anticipated new strikers. Interestingly, their total goal contributions in the league (8) are still surpassed by Manchester City striker Erling Haaland (9).

Many understand other attackers, such as Gyokeres and Sesko. They come from leagues that are not as competitive. The same condition does not apply to Isak, who is entering his fourth season playing in England. So, what is it that prevents him from shining in the most offensive club in the league?

The most important thing is that he adapts to his teammates and his teammates adapt to him.

The answer is that football does not operate like a mathematical formula. One plus one does not equal two. The combination of Isak and Mohamed Salah does not necessarily result in a lethal duo. This is what Liverpool's Head Coach Arne Slot has been learning recently.

Isak indeed does not need to adapt to the pace and intensity of the league anymore, but he needs to adjust to Liverpool's system as well as with Salah and his teammates. "The most important thing is that he adjusts to his teammates and they adjust to him. The more they play together, the better it will be," said Slot in early October.

Moreover, Isak is facing issues with fitness. He did not participate in the preseason training due to a protracted transfer negotiation process. The striker only joined on the very last day of the transfer window. Similar preseason problems were also experienced by Gyokeres and Sesko, although not as severe as Isak's situation.

Another factor is the arrival of new attackers, which has also changed the playing style of several clubs. Arsenal, for instance, is trying to rely on Gyokeres' strengths in counter-attacking transitions. This change and adaptation caused Gyokeres to fail to register a shot in three out of the first four matches.

At MU, coach Ruben Amorim has only recently been able to take advantage of Sesko's height advantage over the past two weeks. This has been achieved by frequently utilizing crosses. It has been proven that Sesko contributed two goals in the last two matches with this scheme, following a goal drought in the first five matches.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta brings a different perspective on a striker. His main reason for bringing in Gyokeres is indeed the need for a goal machine. However, the Swedish national team player is capable of contributing to many aspects beyond just scoring goals.

Although Gyokeres has only scored three goals, Arsenal has managed to top the temporary standings as the second highest-scoring team (14 goals). "He does everything you need from a striker. He connects the attacks, stretches the space, and threatens the opponent's defense," said Arteta.

The most outstanding figure is Woltemade. The 23-year-old striker has already scored three goals in four league matches. What is his secret? He benefits from being the club's first-choice option. Newcastle has no choice but to adapt to Woltemade, unlike Liverpool, which has Isak and Ekitike.

From the perspective of pressure and expectations, Woltemade is also at a lower level. This is because Newcastle is still a club that aims to rise from a mediocre level to the top tier. The pressure on him is clearly not as great as that on Sesko, who is relied upon to restore the prestige of MU.

Despite the colorful new attackers, one thing remains unchanged. Haaland is still the most dangerous striker in England, even after losing the best supplier in Kevin De Bruyne. This is enough to demonstrate how great the player nicknamed "goal robot" is. (AP/REUTERS)