Liverpool boss Arne Slot has explained why Alexander Isak has been left out of the Reds squad for their Premier League clash with Burnley. The Sweden international joined Liverpool from Newcastle on transfer deadline day but is yet to make his debut for the Merseyside giants.
Isak pulled out of Newcastle’s pre-season tour of Asia earlier this summer with a “minor thigh injury” and then trained alone at former club Real Sociedad. He later told Newcastle chiefs he had no intention of reintegrating with the rest of the squad as he attempted to force through a move to Anfield. His stance means he is short of match fitness, with Sweden manager Jon Dahl Tomasson handing the striker just 18 minutes of game time during the recent international break as his country took on Slovenia and Kosovo in the space of four days.
“We think with a week where we play three games in seven days, we think this is the best lead-up for him to be available against Atletico Madrid,” Slot said.
“It's always difficult to say [when he will be] up to full speed. You build it up gradually with proper training sessions during the week.
“Where would he be, second or third week of pre-season would you say? Hopefully able to play in the week. It's going to be interesting for us to get the best out of him from the start, but also keep him available until the end.”
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