Liverpool handed £125million summer signing Alexander Isak another start against Manchester United and could now regret not moving for an alternative target.
Isak was named in Arne Slot’s XI for the third consecutive Premier League game on Sunday, but he struggled in front of goal once again.
The Swede is yet to get off the mark for his new club in the top-flight and has chalked up just two goal contributions across his seven appearances in all competitions.
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Slot admitted it was now fair for supporters to judge him, with Isak back up to speed after missing pre-season, but so far, he has been unable to find any rhythm.
Perhaps his staggering price tag is beginning to weigh heavily on his shoulders, proving that the wiser decision would have been for Liverpool to move for another Premier League ace.
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty ImagesLiverpool needed Jean-Philippe Mateta
While Isak found himself hooked by Slot with the Reds chasing an equaliser, Jean-Philippe Mateta had delivered a truly stunning performance against Bournemouth on Saturday.
Labelled a defender’s ‘nightmare’ by Alan Shearer, Mateta scored all three of Crystal Palace’s goals in their pulsating 3-3 draw at Selhurst Park, although he was still not satisfied after the final whistle.
Remarkably, he also broke a top-flight record in the process, having recorded the highest xG total for any player in a Premier League game in the last 10 seasons, at least.
His tally of 3.67 shattered the previous record held by Alexandre Lacazette, who brought up 2.97 against Manchester United back in 2017.
The 28-year-old was absolutely everywhere at the weekend and positioned himself in the right place at the right time on three occasions, proving again that he’s one of the world’s best aces.
He joined Palace for a meagre fee of just £9m from Eintracht Frankfurt in January 2022 and, according to Foot Mercato, is estimated to be worth around £52m now.
That represents a real snip for interested parties, of which there are bound to be many. Liverpool, the same publication claimed, were among them in the summer, before they settled on Isak and Hugo Ekitike.
Mateta is a classic old-fashioned poacher – a throwback to a more direct, physical era – so it’s no wonder Wayne Rooney believes he is the only proper striker in the top-flight.
Sam Allardyce reckons he would thrive at Arsenal, and his ability to sniff out chances and then finish them would make him a perfect foil for Liverpool’s scoring issues this season.
Slot, however, has committed to Isak and will be hoping he comes good sooner rather than later.
Jean-Philippe Mateta not happy despite scoring hat-trick
Mateta admitted he was “very frustrated and upset” despite his hat-trick against Bournemouth, after missing a golden chance to secure all three points for Palace right at the death.
With 99 minutes on the clock, the frontman had the entire goal at his mercy, but somehow ballooned his shot over the crossbar in a dramatic final twist.
Jean-Philippe Mateta’s xG of 3.67 vs. Bournemouth is the highest by a player in a Premier League game in the last 10 seasons at least.
Highest xG in a Premier League game since 2016/17:
◉ 3.67 – Mateta vs. Bournemouth (2025)
◎ 2.97 – Lacazette vs. Man Utd (2017)
◎ 2.89 -… pic.twitter.com/1q7Db2DEAY— Squawka (@Squawka) October 20, 2025
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“With the last chance I had, I am very frustrated,” Mateta told the BBC.
“I want to win every game, even if I did score a hat-trick. It was up to me to score the goal [with the late chance] and I didn’t score it, that is why I am like this.
“I need a few minutes to speak with the team and cool down but now I am upset.”