Liverpool fans may have to wait before seeing Alexander Isak unleashed in full flow, with manager Arne Slot admitting the club’s new £125 million signing is still lacking fitness after missing pre-season. The Swedish striker joined on deadline day following a stand-off with Newcastle and will be eased into action carefully, with his availability against Burnley on Sunday under doubt.
Liverpool’s £125m signing Isak still lacking match fitnessArne Slot warns fans not to expect 90 minutes immediatelyBurnley clash may mark debut, but minutes will be limitedFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Isak sealed his dream move to Liverpool in a £125m transfer on the summer deadline day after forcing an exit from Newcastle United. The striker missed all of pre-season amid tensions with the Magpies and has played just 18 minutes for Sweden during the international break. Slot now plans to introduce him gradually into Liverpool’s line-up to avoid injury setbacks.
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Speaking to the media, Slot said, “Don’t expect Alex to be on for 90 minutes in every game over the next few weeks. He missed a proper pre-season, three or four months of team sessions, we have to build him up gradually. With us playing so many games, hardly any training time, that’ll be a challenge.
“We haven’t signed him for not only the upcoming two weeks, but, I think, six years. That’s what we have to keep in mind. What the fans have to keep in mind, if I take him off at a certain moment, or I only bring him only for a small amount of minutes, it’s for the long-term fitness of the player. In football, there’s always criticism. It’s part of his life, my life, our jobs.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Slot also went on and praised the Sweden coach, Jon Dahl Tomasson, for handling Isak delicately during the international break, as he played just 18 minutes in their second World Cup qualifying match of the break against Kosovo. The Dutchman added: “The Swedish manager [Jon Dahl Tomasson] deserves a big compliment because he gets the best striker in the world, but understands [that] if he plays 90 minutes twice, he might be injured for a number of weeks. We will treat him the same as they did.”
On his first interactions with Isak so far, Slot said: "Maybe you don’t believe me, but I haven’t spoken to him that much. I phoned him after he signed, and he had to go to Sweden, but 99 per cent of the time during breaks, I leave the players with their national managers. I text him once or twice, but I do have to get to know him in the upcoming days and weeks. We have such a great culture here at this club, so we sign players for their qualities, and I know how good he is, what a quality player he is."
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR ISAK?
The Swede is unlikely to make his full Liverpool debut against Burnley, but could likely be utilised as a late second-half substitute. Slot will aim to use him sparingly in the opening weeks, gradually building up his sharpness.
