Liverpool star Alexander Isak has admitted seeing one of his Sweden teammate’s use his celebration was both “a tribute and a dig”.
The striker is referring to Hammarby forward Paulos Abraham, who is in Graham Potter’s Sweden squad for this international break.
He was a late addition to the group and heads into the break in fine form after bagging 14 goals and three assists in 22 games in the Allsvenskan so far this season. One of those came in the derby with AIK – Isak’s old club – last month.
He celebrated by using Isak’s famous “pointing backwards” goal celebration. The Liverpool striker saw that and admits it was a 50/50 moment for him.
“A tribute and a dig – you have to take it as 50/50,” he told Fotboll Direkt.
“As an AIK supporter, I would have preferred to see him in an AIK shirt, but Paulos is like a little brother to me, and I wish him every success regardless.”
No hard feelings
Fortunately, the Liverpool man has a solid relationship with his fellow striker. They both came up through AIK’s youth academies before stepping up to the senior team and then moving to club’s abroad.
Now they’re reuniting in the Sweden set up under Potter. And Isak is backing the striker to make an impression.
“Paulos is a fine player, but that’s something I already knew,” he added.
‼️ Welcome to INTERNATIONAL BREAK BINGO
🇫🇷 Will there be French mutiny?
🇦🇷 Should we expect Argentina tears?
❓Who will say something stupid and claim mistranslation?
🩺 Which big new signing will get injured?
▶️ Play along… 👇https://t.co/J3ZDwQEYs4— Sport Witness (@Sport_Witness) September 24, 2026
Sweden competition
The 24-year-old will now be hoping to make his impression and perhaps pick up his first senior cap, when Sweden compete in the Nations League this month.
With Isak ahead of him, and Viktor Gyökeres in the squad as well, there’s certainly a healthy competition for places in Sweden’s forward line at present.
But Potter recently indicated that everyone will get their chance, so perhaps Abraham can borrow Isak’s celebration once again.
