Liverpool manager Arne Slot has said that Liverpool fans shouldn’t expect to see Alexander Isak play 90 minutes in every game.
The Reds are coming out of the international break in a very strong position, having won three games in three in the Premier League, sitting at the top of the table, and looking good to defend their league title from last year.
Liverpool got one over rivals Arsenal in their last game with a 1-0 win at Anfield, and next up will play against Burnley at Turf Moor on Sunday afternoon, hoping to make it four wins in four games under Slot this season so far.
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After the transfer window, many Liverpool fans are expecting to see new signing Alexander Isak feature against Burnley, but Arne Slot has provided a major update on whether the Swedish international will play.
Slot says Liverpool fans shouldn’t expect Isak every game
The Liverpool manager provided a damning update on Friday afternoon surrounding Isak after the striker managed to appear during the international break for Sweden. However, his minutes were limited, and Slot says he thanks Swedish manager Jon Dahl Tomasson for that.
Slot said in his press conference: “Jon Dahl Tomasson, deserves a big, big, big compliment because he gets one of the best, maybe the best striker in the world in and needs to play two very important games for his country, but understands if he would play him twice for 90 minutes the player would have probably been injured for multiple weeks.
“So, don’t expect him every single game 90 minutes on the pitch – that’s definitely not going to happen in the upcoming weeks. 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.”
Slot said that they have the long-term in mind for Isak, and don’t want to rush him in, especially considering that they can start Hugo Ekitike up front instead.
“We’ve signed him, I think, for six years so this is what we have to keep in mind and what the fans have to keep in mind if they see that I take him off at a certain moment or I only bring him in for a small amount of minutes. That’s all for the long-term fitness of the player.”
Click here to see Liverpool’s first team squad ahead of the game against Burnley.