Isak's return to form spells danger for West Ham

Adrian Clarke looks at key tactical points and players who can be decisive in Matchweek 12.

Player analysis: Alexander Isak (Newcastle United) 

Alexander Isak goes into Monday night’s match at home to West Ham United bang in form, having netted five goals in his last six appearances for club and country.  

The Swede unusually failed to score in five of his first six Premier League matches of the season, but strikes against Chelsea, Arsenal and Nottingham Forest in successive outings have ignited his campaign.  

Isak's recent return to the scoresheet feels like bad news for West Ham, who have lost their last two away matches by an aggregate score of 7-1.

Isak enjoys facing West Ham 

West Ham’s players will be well aware of Isak’s qualities anyway. The Newcastle striker has netted in each of his three appearances against them, including two goals in both of last season’s meetings.

Isak's second goal at West Ham

No player has ever netted multiple goals in three consecutive matches against West Ham before, so Isak has the chance to make a small piece of history.

What has been different this season? 

So many of Isak’s goals for Eddie Howe’s side in 2022/23 and 2023/24 came from counter-attacks or through-balls that used his brilliant movement and pace.

Goals from fast breaks 2023/24

What do West Ham need to look out for?

One of Isak’s strengths is his ability to manoeuvre himself goalside of his markers, without straying offside.  

For a striker who plays off the shoulder of the last man as often as he does, the Swede has only been flagged offside five times this season.  

A lot of Isak's strikes come from moments when he cleverly gets goalside with a clear run towards the target. 

We saw that when he nipped ahead of Reece James to convert Lewis Hall’s cross at Chelsea.

A goal against Chelsea at home last season reflects Isak's intuition when it comes to testing the offside line.

Knowing that Marc Cucurella was playing him on, he resisted the temptation to drop in, before receiving Lewis Miley’s pass.

West Ham also suffered from Isak’s astute positioning in last season’s match at the London Stadium.  

Taking up a position goalside of his marker, he was well placed to tuck home when a home defender knocked the ball down.

Whether it is from set-plays or on the counter attack, Isak takes up superb positions that allow him to look along the line.  

If he drifts into these areas on Monday evening, Julen Lopetegui’s side could be in trouble.  

How does his home record stack up? 

Isak is consistently outstanding in home matches.  

He has been directly involved in 18 goals in his last 17 Premier League starts at St James’ Park (16 goals, 2 assists) in a run that began with a brace at home to Aston Villa on the opening weekend of the 2023/24 season.  

He ranks fourth for home goals scored during that period, registering one every 91.1 minutes - albeit with five of his 16 goals coming from penalties.

Plenty of other forwards enjoy more touches in the box (6.5 per 90) and shots (3.6 per 90) than Isak in home matches, but he is lethal when chances fall his way.

His shot conversion rate since the start of 2023/24 stands at 27.1 per cent, ranking him seventh among Premier League players who have scored five goals or more.

Isak in PL home matches since 23/24

Isak is always dangerous from fast breaks and through-balls at St James’ Park and rest assured he will always look to run in beyond the West Ham defence.  

When running towards goal in open space there are very few more accomplished strikers than Newcastle’s top scorer.  

Boasting a strong home record and with a habit of hurting West Ham, there is every chance on-song Isak will be the Magpies’ main man in the final fixture of Matchweek 12.