Alexander Isak is set to be named in a Liverpool squad for the first time following his British record transfer from Newcastle United
Alexander Isak could make his Liverpool debut at Burnley
Alexander Isak could make his Liverpool debut at Burnley(Image: Nikki Dyer - LFC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Alexander Isak has been told he must hit the ground running at Liverpool as the "main man" for Arne Slot's new-look strikeforce. Isak is expected to make a first appearance for the Reds following his controversial club record £125million deadline-day transfer from Newcastle United when the Premier League leaders travel to promoted Burnley on Sunday.
A lack of action having been banished from the Newcastle first-team squad during the summer means the 25-year-old - who made his comeback with a brief cameo for Sweden last week - is likely to be on the bench at Turf Moor.
And while £79m new boy Hugo Ekitike has scored three times in his first four games, former Liverpool striker Rickie Lambert is in no doubt over the pecking order at Anfield.
“Isak will be the main man," says Lambert. "He'll play the majority, especially the big games, but the rest of them will kind of move around him.
“Mo Salah on the right, Isak mostly in the centre, and then everyone else will just fit in around them.
“Ekitike will benefit from it, when you've got a better player around it's only going to create more chances for you as well.
“So I'm hoping to see both of them, Isak and Ekitike, on the pitch together. And I think we will.
“But the pressure is on. They’ve got to hit the floor running, especially Isak with the way he forced his move. The pressure is on him.
“But I think he's big enough and good enough to be able to handle it. The Liverpool fans will be right behind him. They won't be putting the pressure on him, but everyone else will be.”
Isak and Ekitike formed part of a Premier League record £450m summer splurge from Liverpool in which £116m Florian Wirtz, £40m Milos Kerkez and £29m Jeremie Frimpong were also recruited.
And Lambert admits he has been surprised at the sizeable show of spending power from the Premier League champions.
“This is the first time as a Liverpool fan I've ever seen anything like this," he says. "Normally we're up there but we're never the big dogs.
"So this is the first time we've gone out and bought the best players at their peak. Normally we’re getting them a couple of years before or after their peak.
“Doing this is important to stay at the top, like Man City did for so long."
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This month, our focus is on Europe as Liverpool's Champions League campaign kicks off with the Reds looking to bring home European Cup number 7. As well as a pull-out fixtures guide to the group phase, we profile every other club in the competition.
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There's also an interview with Voice of Anfield George Sephton who looks back at his time at the club, we review the big tactical talking points of the season's opening games, and we preview the next month of action as the Champions combine their bid to defend their Premier League crown with the start of their mission for Champions League glory.
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The Reds haven't retained a trophy of any kind since their last successful title defence way back in 1984, which came amid a run of 11 championships in 18 seasons.
But Lambert believes Liverpool should be looking to follow the example of Manchester City and back up last season's emphatic Premier League triumph with more honours.
“You’ve got to look at Manchester City and Manchester United in the Premier League and Liverpool in the 70s and 80s," he says, speaking to Gambling.com.
“That's harder to do now, but Man City have just proven how dominant you can be in this era. Retaining it would be a big thing.
“What's frustrating is that we've been this good now for 10 years, and we've won two Premier League titles. So we deserve, in the Liverpool fans' eyes, a run of a few league titles, and that's what I'm hoping will come.”