Arne Slot has revealed why record-breaking signing Alexander Isak was left out of Liverpool’s squad for their Premier League clash with Burnley.
The reigning champions returned from the international break with a trip to Turf Moor, looking to extend their perfect start to the season. Many Reds supporters were eager to see their £125m deadline-day arrival make his debut, but the Swedish striker was nowhere to be seen in Lancashire.
Isak’s transfer was the headline saga of the summer. After three successful years at Newcastle United, where he scored 62 goals in 109 appearances, the 25-year-old pushed for a move away and eventually joined Liverpool. The deal made him the third-most expensive player in football history, behind Neymar and Kylian Mbappé.
Despite his record-breaking arrival, Slot opted against including him against Burnley. Speaking to Sky Sports, the Liverpool boss explained that Isak’s lack of fitness was the decisive factor.
“Not today,” Slot said. “As everybody knew, he didn’t have any team training at Newcastle. He then went to the national team and only played for 15–20 minutes. 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.
“We’ve decided it’s better for him to have a proper week of training rather than five or ten minutes of playing. I can assure the fans he will be involved on Wednesday [against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League] – but this game came a bit too early.”
Liverpool face a demanding schedule with Atletico Madrid midweek in the Champions League, followed by the Merseyside Derby against Everton next Saturday. Isak, Slot confirmed, is expected to finally make his much-anticipated debut under the Anfield lights.
