Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has admitted that British record signing Alexander Isak is not yet prepared to feature significantly as the club begins its Champions League campaign.
The £125 million striker was left out of the squad for Sunday’s 1-0 victory at Burnley, having played only 18 minutes for Sweden and missed pre-season and game time due to his dispute with Newcastle. Slot explained that Isak underwent a strenuous training session and recovery on Saturday while his teammates secured a fourth successive win at Turf Moor, with Mohamed Salah’s injury-time penalty sealing the victory and restoring Liverpool’s three-point lead atop the Premier League.
“If you start a season when the players have been off for five weeks, you give them a certain base before they are able to play 45 minutes,” Slot said ahead of Liverpool’s Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid. “Alex is far from ready for that schedule of three games in a week but we could use him today for five minutes and Wednesday 10 and then 15, but we don’t believe that is the way to build him up.”
Slot highlighted that Isak’s fitness needs gradual development. “In Sweden they did the right thing by giving him good sessions without playing him a lot and we did the same so now he will be able to play 45 on Wednesday as a minimum or a little bit more. But if he plays 45 on Wednesday, don’t expect him to play 45 or more on Saturday as his body is not prepared for that.”
Reflecting on the Burnley match, Slot admitted Liverpool got lucky against an organised Clarets side and were fortunate to snatch three points following the late sending-off of Burnley’s Lesley Ugochukwu. “It is difficult to outplay 11 players in their own 18-yard box and a draw was probably expected throughout the game,” he said, while emphasising the impact of attacking substitutions.
Burnley manager Scott Parker expressed pride in his players despite the defeat, stating: “It’s really tough and I’m gutted for the players. We took the game to the 95th minute today and a penalty has decided it. They survived their moments, they worked tirelessly for the cause and resorted back to a default position which was ‘Let’s do what we can’ and I’m very proud of them.”
Slot’s comments underscore Liverpool’s cautious approach in integrating Isak into the squad, prioritising his gradual adaptation to the club’s high-intensity schedule while maintaining team performance in both domestic and European competitions.
