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

Player analysis: Alexander Isak (Newcastle United)

Alexander Isak goes into Monday evening at home against West Ham United in fantastic form, having scored five goals in his last six games for club and country.

The Swede uncharacteristically failed to score in five of his first six Premier League games of the season, but goals against Chelsea, Arsenal and Nottingham Forest in successive matches have fueled his campaign.

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

Isak is enjoying the confrontation with West Ham

The West Ham players will certainly know Isak’s qualities well. The Newcastle forward has scored in each of his three appearances against them, including two goals in both meetings last season.

Isak’s second goal at West Ham

No player has ever scored multiple goals in three consecutive games against West Ham before, so Isak has the chance to write a little piece of history.

What has been different this season?

Many of Isak’s goals for Eddie Howe’s side in 2022/23 and 2023/24 came from counter-attacks or through passes using his brilliant movement and pace.

Fast Break Goals 2023/24

What should West Ham pay attention to?

One of Isak’s strengths is his ability to maneuver himself around the goal side of his markers without going offside.

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

Many of Isak’s goals come from moments when he cleverly reaches the target side with a free run towards goal.

We saw that when he got ahead of Reece James and converted Lewis Hall’s cross at Chelsea.

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

Knowing Marc Cucurella was playing him, he resisted the temptation to get past before receiving Lewis Miley’s pass.

West Ham were also troubled by Isak’s sharp positioning in last season’s match at the London Stadium.

He took up a position on the goal side of his marker and was in a good position to head home when a home defender brought the ball down.

Whether from set plays or from the counter-attack, Isak takes up excellent positions that allow him to see down the line.

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

How does his home record compare?

Isak has been consistently excellent in home games.

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 started with a brace at home to Aston Villa on the opening weekend of the 2023/24 season. .

He ranks fourth in terms of home goals scored in that period, registering one goal every 91.1 minutes, even though five of his 16 goals have come from penalties.

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

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

Isak in PL home games since 23/24

Isak is always dangerous through fast breaks and through balls at St James’ Park and Rest assured, he will always be looking to get past the West Ham defence.

Running towards goal in open space, there are few more talented attackers than Newcastle’s top scorer.

With a strong home record and a habit of hurting West Ham, there is every chance Isak will be the Magpies’ main man in the final game of Matchweek 12.