  We present a five-dimensional anisotropic holographic model for light quarks
supported by Einstein-dilaton-two-Maxwell action. This model generalizing
isotropic holographic model with light quarks is characterized by a Van der
Waals-like phase transition between small and large black holes. We compare the
location of the phase transition for Wilson loops with the positions of the
phase transition related to the background instability and describe the QCD
phase diagram in the thermodynamic plane -- temperature $T$ and chemical
potential $\mu$. The Cornell potential behavior in this anisotropic model is
also studied. The asymptotics of the Cornell potential at large distances
strongly depend on the parameter of anisotropy and orientation. There is also a
nontrivial dependence of the Cornell potential on the boundary conditions of
the dilaton field and parameter of anisotropy. With the help of the boundary
conditions for the dilaton field one fits the results of the lattice
calculations for the string tension as a function of temperature in isotropic
case and then generalize to the anisotropic one.
