Alexander Isak came off injured for Liverpool last night and Arne Slot has bemoaned his lack of pre-season training.
Arne Slot has suggested Alexander Isak not training for three months played its part in his latest injury blow.
Liverpool withdrew the Swede at half-time in their 5-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt. It was later confirmed that Isak suffered a groin injury - which will hardly be surprising to Newcastle United supporters.
Isak suffered three groin setbacks during his time at St James’ Park and was managed carefully towards the back end of last season. And after scoring just one Carabao Cup goal from his opening eight Liverpool games, the 26-year-old is already facing another spell on the sidelines.
Arne Slot reveals Alexander Isak injury
Speaking last night, Reds boss Slot fired a subtle dig at Newcastle for Isak’s fitness. It should be noted that the striker himself refused to train or play for the Magpies throughout his transfer saga.
“Let’s hope it’s not that bad, but he had to go off because he felt his groin,” Slot said. “That is a pity but, I said many times, it’s such a difficult balance to find with a player like this who missed three months. Many people wanted me to play him more and we had to find the balance and, unfortunately, today that balance didn’t work out for us perfectly.
“But let’s hope for the best. When he came to the club, he had hardly trained. So you bring him step by step forward and then you feel there must be a moment where he can play twice a week, and the first time we try – he did it with Sweden as well – he has to go off.”
Alexander Isak was not carrying knock
Slot also noted how Isak was fit and firing ahead of their win over Frankfurt. The Dutchman previously urged the public to only start judging the £130million man after the recent international break - but his form has not improved.
“Alex wasn’t in the red zone because we wouldn’t have played him,” Slot added. “Normally, you try to prepare players for once‑a‑week football, but if you are Liverpool you play every three days or normally three times in eight days but we’ve been unfortunate this season we have to play three times in seven days.
“We’ve tried to prepare him for that programme which is not always so easy when you don’t have a pre‑season. We were really careful. He was perfectly fit when he came back from the national team and before the (Manchester) United game.
“We thought he was well prepared for that but the margins at the top are small. I’m hoping it won’t be that bad, because if he’s out for a few weeks it will put him back. So let’s wait.”
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‘Doesn’t benefit anyone’ - Alexander Isak
While on international duty, Swedish media pressed Isak on the Newcastle drama. He is preferring to move on - insisting that dragging up the saga does not benefit either party.
“It’s nothing to dwell on now,” Isak said, as quoted by ESPN. “It doesn't benefit anyone, neither me nor Newcastle so let it be. I'm working hard to push myself and play my game. Things have been a bit tougher for us (Liverpool). I believe that as the team improves and things start to flow better, it will also go better for me.”
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