Liverpool’s record signing, Alexander Isak, was a notable absentee from the group of arrivals at Turf Moor ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash with Burnley.
The Swedish striker, who joined the Reds on a British record £130 million deal from Newcastle United on deadline day, and will not make his debut against the Clarets.
Isak’s omission comes as no surprise, with the striker having only limited time to train with his new teammates. He was immediately called up for international duty with Sweden, where he played just 15 to 20 minutes. Additionally, Isak has yet to regain full match fitness, having not completed a proper pre-season with Newcastle.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot had previously warned that the forward would need to be eased into action, and speaking ahead of the Burnley game, Slot shared an update on his progress.
“As everybody knew, he didn’t have any team training at Newcastle, then went to the national team [and] only played there for 15 to 20 minutes,” Slot explained. “We think, with a week where we play three games in seven days, this is the best lead-up for him to be available against Atletico Madrid.”
Slot admitted that predicting when Isak would be at full speed was challenging. “That’s always difficult to say [how quickly he will be] up to full speed. What I can say is that normally in a pre-season, after one or two weeks you play your first 45 to 60 minutes, you build that up gradually.”
However, the unusual schedule at Liverpool means Isak has limited opportunities for full team training.
“But that you do with proper training sessions during the week, and now we hardly have any proper training sessions with the team because we play, like I just said, three games in seven days,” Slot added.
Looking ahead, the Liverpool boss offered insight into the striker’s expected progression.
“So, where would he be? Second or third week of pre-season, I would say, so able to hopefully play during the week 45 minutes or more, but then two days later, as you know, we play Everton again.”
Slot concluded by emphasising the careful balance Liverpool must strike with their record signing.
“It’s going to be interesting for the performance staff, for us, to get the best out of him at the start but also to keep him available for the end.”
While fans may be eager to see Isak in a Liverpool shirt, it seems patience will be key. The forward’s integration is being handled cautiously, with the club focused on ensuring he is fit, ready, and fully prepared to make a sustained impact once he finally steps onto the Anfield pitch.
