Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has offered clarity on his squad’s fitness situation and the integration of new signing Alexander Isak ahead of Sunday’s Premier League trip to Burnley.
The Reds are preparing for a crucial 21-day stretch that includes seven fixtures, and Slot has been boosted by several players returning to fitness following the international break.
One setback, however, is Curtis Jones. The midfielder has been ruled out after sustaining an injury in his last outing.
“Curtis Jones, of course, got injured in the last game. So he will not be available for the game against Burnley,” Slot confirmed.
The head coach did not provide a timeline for Jones’s recovery but welcomed the fact that the majority of his squad returned from international duty without issue.
“I think the rest of them all came back without a problem and that is not always the situation, especially at the beginning of the season where everybody comes from a different background, goes to the national team where they all of a sudden have to play two games in four or five days,” he explained.
“It’s always the biggest risk in November and October. In March they are much more used to that program. We’re happy that they are fit. Again, not only a complement to the Sweden manager but also for the others. A few others like Ryan Gravenberch only started one game and not both of them.”
Right-back has been an early concern this season, with Dominik Szoboszlai forced to deputise in defence while Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong recovered from injuries. Both are now available for selection.
“I think they are fit,” Slot said. “We train today for the first time with them. With most of them, the non-internationals did train with the Under-21s this week already.”
Slot also addressed the situation of Alexander Isak, who joined Liverpool from Newcastle United on deadline day. The Swedish striker endured a disrupted summer and will need time to reach full match sharpness.
“Don’t expect him to be every single game 90 minutes on the pitch. That’s definitely not going to happen for the next few weeks,” Slot admitted.
“He missed a proper pre-season. I think he missed three or four months of team sessions, so now we have to build him up gradually with us playing so many games and hardly any training time. That is going to be a challenge, but we have not just signed him for the upcoming two weeks, we have signed him for six years so this is what we have to keep in mind.”
Liverpool travel to Turf Moor on Sunday to face newly promoted Burnley with confidence buoyed by the return of key players, though Jones’s absence and Isak’s gradual integration remain important factors in the weeks ahead.
