The likelihood is that Liverpool’s attacker, Alexander Isak, won’t be in the first eleven until the Merseyside contest with Everton the following Saturday.
It is not anticipated that Isak, the most expensive acquisition in Liverpool’s history, will be named in either of Arne Slot’s opening lineups for the games against Burnley (14 Sep) or Atletico Madrid (17 Sep), considering his limited game time during the international fixtures.
Since May, Isak hasn’t participated in any matches, whether competitive or not. He was absent from Newcastle United’s pre-season program because he opted not to join the team on their tour of the Far East.
Alexander Isak’s Liverpool Debut Pushed Back
Instead, the 25-year-old trained individually, including a period at Real Sociedad’s ‘Zubieta’ facility, while still contracted to Newcastle.
Amidst speculation about his future, Isak then trained separately from his Magpies colleagues, missing Newcastle’s friendly matches at home and their initial three Premier League games of the new season.
He finalized a move to Liverpool on transfer deadline day last week after publicly stating his desire to depart Newcastle, citing unfulfilled commitments from the club’s management. As a result, Isak believed the relationship was beyond repair and advocated for his transfer to Anfield.
During the international break in September, Isak was not in the starting lineup for either of Sweden’s games against Kosovo or Slovenia, and he remained on the bench for Jon Dahl Tomasson’s team during their 2-2 tie with the latter.
Isak mentioned in his inaugural interview as a Liverpool player that he had experienced a challenging summer and, despite his efforts to maintain his overall fitness, he conceded that he might be somewhat lacking in match fitness.
Consequently, Slot is unlikely to include his new No.9 in the starting eleven when Liverpool travel to Turf Moor this weekend.
Considering the importance of the Reds’ Champions League opening match at home against Atletico Madrid, as well as Hugo Ekitike’s current form, starting Isak would be a gamble that the manager is unlikely to take if Liverpool are aiming for a successful start to this season’s league campaign as well.
It was speculated that Isak might be given the chance to start for his country in Sweden’s second World Cup qualifying match of the international break, but Tomasson resisted the temptation and instead selected Newcastle winger Anthony Elanga alongside Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres for the match in Kosovo.
