Arne Slot chose to take Alexander Isak off 58 minutes into his Liverpool debut in the Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid
Hugo Ekitike comes on as a substitute to replace Alexander Isak
Hugo Ekitike comes on as a substitute to replace Alexander Isak(Image: (Clive Mason/Getty Images))
Alexander Isak made his Liverpool debut in the Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid at Anfield. Just three days earlier, he was left out of the Liverpool squad to face Burnley, but Arne Slot decided to name him from the start on Wednesday evening.
The Premier League champions kicked off their European campaign in style with a Mohamed Salah free-kick turned home by Andy Robertson after just three minutes. Liverpool's talisman then scored himself just over 60 seconds later with a close-range left-footed strike nestling in the bottom corner after a one-two with Ryan Gravenberch.
Liverpool were awarded a penalty for a handball by Clement Lenglet, but that was overturned by VAR.
Marcos Llorente then pulled one back for Atletico with a clever finish in the final knockings of the first half.
Isak was relatively quiet for the opening 30 minutes, but he very nearly grabbed an assist when he beat Robin Le Normand to the ball - with the Atletico defender booked for his foul on Isak - but Salah's effort was straight at Oblak. Isak then required treatment from two physios but was able to come back on.
He also had two efforts at goal, with one flying just wide and the other saved by Oblak. Florian Wirtz was also played through by Isak, but after going round the goalkeeper, he could not get a shot away, with the onrushing Jeremie Frimpong unable to make contact.
Prior to this outing, Isak had played just 18 minutes of football in the last four months, with that coming off the bench in Sweden's World Cup qualifying defeat to Kosovo. His reluctance to stay at Newcastle also resulted in a very disrupted pre-season for the 25-year-old.
In terms of actual training sessions under Slot and with his new teammates, he has seen roughly 10 of his first 17 days as a Liverpool player be spent away on international duty.
Taking into account all of that, it is not surprising at all that he was taken off early, with Slot's comments as further proof the substitution was likely planned.
“There is definitely a chance, because he is in the squad,” Slot admitted on Isak during his pre-match press conference.
“Then there is a chance to play. Normally I would say 99.9 per cent sure, but I can say it’s 100 per cent sure he will not play 90 minutes. But he is part of the squad.
“It is already a Champions League game to look forward to but if people look forward to his playing time, that could mean that could happen tomorrow as well.
“The only thing that is sure is he will not play 90, and all the rest you will see tomorrow.”
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