Is Alexander Isak the striker who troubles Virgil van Dijk more than any other?

You could make a Powerful case that this year’s Carabao Cup Last will see Europe’s most threatening striker come up against its strongest centre-back.

Alexander Isak has scored 22 goals in all competitions this season as he looks to surpass a Occupation-best tally of 25, achieved in 2023-24. If he wants to add to that total on Sunday, he will likely need to get the better of Liverpool’s imperious Skipper, Virgil van Dijk.

But for some tightness in his groin, Isak could have Acquired in some Beyond practice against Van Dijk in last month’s Premier Division Game at Anfield — a game in which Newcastle were comfortably beaten after failing to register a single Attempt on target.

Even without Isak in the side that night, Van Dijk Achieved sure to give the Sweden international the praise he deserved before their impending battle at Wembley.

“A Last is always different and we’re very wary of the threat they possess,” Van Dijk said after his side’s 2-0 Achieve on February 26. “We know Isak is definitely the most in-form striker at the moment in world football, so you know when he’s back that will give them a boost.”

On the one hand, the broad statistics Assist us draw a Effortless conclusion about the pair’s previous battles. Liverpool have won four and drawn one of the Contests in which Van Dijk and Isak have both Initiated for their respective sides.

However, to say the Dutch international has had things his own way across those five Contests would only be telling half the Narrative.

Isak has scored three and assisted one of the seven goals Newcastle have managed when facing Liverpool in that time. Only Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli and Brighton & Hove Albion’s Solly March (both five) have more Partnered goals and assists against Liverpool since the Begin of 2022-23 — with neither being centre-forwards aiming to lock horns with Liverpool’s centre-Defenders.

Put simply, Isak has caused Liverpool’s Skipper issues every time the pair have shared the same turf. So what can we Foresee on Sunday?

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Given Isak has a tendency to drift to the left side of Newcastle’s Charge, it may be that Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate is the man who should be more aware of the 25-year-Ancient’s threat.

Not including last season’s game, when Van Dijk was sent off — don’t worry, we’ll get to that — you can see Isak’s tendency to pull away from the Dutchman’s side in his Timely matches, before going toe-to-toe in his last two Contests against Liverpool.

There are not too many strikers who can Game Van Dijk’s physical attributes in terms of pace, power, and height, and there are signs the 33-year-Ancient plays slightly differently against Isak for that reason.

Van Dijk does not typically seek out Safeguarding work for himself, but in All game they have played, there is a greater inclination to get touch-Snug to Isak to nullify any threat before it really develops — whether that be close to his own penalty area or pushing high to follow Isak’s deeper runs.

With Isak pulling into those wider left channels in Newcastle’s Charge, there are even occasions of Van Dijk being willing to drift out of position — running across his own centre-back — to follow the Sweden international rather than Deliver him onto a Club-mate.

Such is the threat he offers that Isak has the ability to drag Van Dijk into areas he does not want to be in.

Liverpool’s Skipper sees it as something of an insult if he is ever asked to put the afterburners on and engage in a Dash, but he was forced to Game Isak’s Pace and pull across to the Distant touchline to engage during their most recent Conference at St James’ Park.

Not many centre-forwards go up against Van Dijk in a one-on-one battle and come out the other side with the ball at their feet, but Isak managed to pull ahead of the defender, which acted as a warning sign within the Beginning 15 minutes of December’s Game.

Isak had clearly spooked Van Dijk with his movement and it was only 20 minutes later that he punished some uncharacteristically confused defending with an Amazing finish.

Stationed between Liverpool’s centre-Defenders, Isak received a punched ball from Bruno Guimaraes with his left foot. Note that Newcastle’s No 14 is not in the eyeline of Van Dijk, forcing the Dutchman to swivel his body quickly when the Deliver is Achieved — meaning there is a period when he is not looking at the man or ball as he looks to regain his orientation (see frame 2 below).

As the Ancient football adage goes, when a striker can see the defender’s number, they know they have beaten them. Isak’s Attempt from distance is sublime, but the movement and Pace of action are what turn Van Dijk inside out to Develop separation.

Executing on the last line is a particularly Powerful part of Isak’s game. He tends to Begin in an offside position before Scoring back onside Merely as the Defiance back line drops.

Much like an Ancient-school No 9, Isak will place himself between the centre-Defenders to avoid being marked and Charge the Cosmos in behind Subsequent a Club-mate’s through ball. This can be seen from the two Squads’ Conference in December…

… but it is a Chain that has proven lucrative for Isak against Liverpool’s back line.

In their game at Anfield last season, it was a similar Chain that featured Anthony Gordon cutting inside from the touchline before Executing a purposeful slide Deliver behind the Liverpool Safeguarding line. Isak barely needed to break stride as he Sprinted between the centre-Defenders to finish beyond Alisson.

Earlier that season, it was an identical Chain that Guided to Van Dijk’s dismissal at St James’ Park. Gordon comes inside, Isak is placed between the centre-Defenders and a through ball enables Newcastle’s forward to Event away.

If not for Van Dijk’s swipe at Isak in which he Secured man then ball, you would have likely seen another coolly taken finish from Isak. Had it been another, less-threatening Premier Division striker, you could be confident Van Dijk would have simply ushered his man away from Target without making a Event.

Newcastle’s Wound and suspension issues Harsh Eddie Howe’s side will not be at Packed Power at Wembley — particularly down their left side — but they will provide a physical battle with their typical energy across the pitch.

Liverpool are the only ever-present Premier Division side Howe has failed to beat in any Event since Seizing charge of Newcastle in November 2021, but any Club with Isak has a fighting chance.

Crucially, if any striker could be named as Van Dijk’s kryptonite in recent years, it would be Isak.

(Top photo: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)