**Liverpool head coach Arne Slot hasn’t ruled out the idea of one specific player starting against Everton in the Premier League this weekend.**
The Reds won 3-2 at home to Atletico Madrid on Wednesday evening, leaving it late yet again to get their Champions League season off to a winning start, thanks to Virgil van Dijk’s last-gasp header.
Next up for Liverpool is Saturday’s visit of Everton in the Merseyside derby, with Slot having big decisions to make regarding his starting lineup.
Speaking to the media after the Atletico game \[via [_This Is Anfield_](https://www.thisisanfield.com/2025/09/alexander-isak-is-fitter-than-arne-slot-expected-could-start-vs-everton/)\], the Reds boss admitted that Alexander Isak could again start at Anfield, having impressed with his fitness levels on his debut on Wednesday.
“Could be, but again, it could never be a 90 minutes for him, so that is what we all have to understand,” Slot said.
“I was positively surprised by how fit he was in that 60 minutes. That probably tells you it might be different to signing a 20-year-old from a different league or a 25-year-old who has already played in this league.
“I was surprised how fit he was, I was not surprised by his quality. It’s always nice to see if a player starts the way he starts. Good start, only 60 minutes, now we have to build him up from here.”
**Should Isak start Liverpool-Everton clash?**
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Isak grew into the game on his Liverpool debut, looking more threatening as the minutes ticked by, but he was also clearly not at his very sharpest.
There would be some risk to Slot again starting the Swede against Everton, considering they don’t want to overplay him and risk injury, but giving him around an hour again makes sense.
Isak should have benefited from the Atletico match, in terms of shaking off rustiness, and Blues manager David Moyes would rather see him on the substitutes’ bench rather than the starting XI this weekend.
Hugo Ekitike could then be introduced in the second half, bringing fresh legs to the team, with the Frenchman also an option to start on the left wing, with Cody Gakpo arguably not in the greatest form currently.