BURNLEY, England – Liverpool manager Arne Slot said British record signing Alexander Isak is still short of full fitness after his £125 million ($169 million) move from Newcastle United, but the Sweden striker could make his debut against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Isak, 25, was left out of the squad for Liverpool’s 1-0 win at Burnley on Sunday, with Mohamed Salah’s stoppage-time penalty securing a fourth successive Premier League victory for the champions. Slot confirmed the forward, who arrived on deadline day, is being eased into action following a summer in which he played only limited minutes.
“Alex is far from ready for that schedule of three games in a week,” Slot told reporters. “We could have used him for five or 10 minutes, but we don’t believe that is the right way to build him up. Sweden did the right thing giving him good sessions without matches, and now we are doing the same.”
Slot indicated Isak could feature for at least 45 minutes either against Atletico at Anfield or in Saturday’s league match. However, he warned that Liverpool will not overextend the striker as he builds his match sharpness.
Isak’s only competitive appearance this season came in a 20-minute substitute outing for Sweden during a 2-0 World Cup qualifying defeat to Kosovo last week. He had been sidelined at Newcastle after making clear his intention to join Liverpool.
Liverpool laboured for much of the contest at Turf Moor, struggling to break down a Burnley side reduced to 10 men late on after Lesley Ugochukwu’s dismissal. A stoppage-time handball by Hannibal Mejbri handed Salah the chance to convert the decisive penalty, continuing a remarkable pattern in which all four of Liverpool’s league wins this season have come via goals scored after the 80th minute.
“It is the first time in Premier League history a team has won four consecutive games so late,” Slot said. “We needed either a moment of magic or a moment of luck. This time, it was luck.”
Isak, regarded for his movement, composure in front of goal and ability to stretch defences, is expected to add a new dimension to Liverpool’s attack once fully integrated. His arrival underscores Liverpool’s intent to refresh their forward line as they bid to defend their Premier League crown and make a deep run in Europe.
