Alexander Isak of Liverpool looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD3 match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Liverpool FC at Frankfurt Stadion on October 22, 2025 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. (Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)placeholder image
Alexander Isak of Liverpool looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD3 match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Liverpool FC at Frankfurt Stadion on October 22, 2025 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. (Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images) | Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Alexander Isak injury update as Liverpool prepare to face Man City in the Premier League.
Alexander Isak has been named in Sweden’s squad for the upcoming international break.
The Liverpool striker is included in Graham Potter’s first set-up after taking charge of Blågult last month, succeeding Jon Dahl Tomasson.
Sweden face the reality of missing out on qualification for the 2026 World Cup. They sit bottom of Group B on just one point and must win upcoming games against Switzerland and Sweden to have any chance of making the tournament.
Despite missing Liverpool’s previous three matches, Isak has been called-up for international duty. The centre-forward, who signed for a British record £125 million from Newcastle United in the summer transfer window, has been struggling with a groin injury.
Ahead of the Reds’ 1-0 win over Real Madrid in the Champions League, head coach Arne Slot admitted there might be a chance Isak could be back on the bench for Sunday’s trip to Manchester City in the Premier League. "With Alex we have to wait and see,” said Slot. “Definitely not starting on Sunday, but maybe he can be involved in the squad. He is still not training with the team, so we have to wait and see."
Speaking at a press conference unveiling the Sweden squad, Potter admitted he’s unsure whether Isak will feature for Liverpool against City - and the ex-Real Sociedad man will not be able to play in both of Blagult’s matches.
Potter said viaSport Bladet: “They (Isak and Lucas Bergvall) are available now and we will see this weekend and they are in the squad. Alex is especially not ready to play two games of 90 minutes. But he is available and I look forward to meeting him.”
Isak arrived at Liverpool on summer transfer deadline day short of match fitness. The 25-year-old spent the majority of pre-season training alone at Newcastle as he pursued a move to Anfield.
It meant that the Reds slowly have had to build up Isak’s fitness, while Sweden took care of him during the international breaks in September and October respectively. As a consequence, he’s had a soft launch to his Liverpool career and has managed just one goal in eight appearances so far. Isak sustained his issue during a 5-1 thrashing of Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League last month.
After Isak was substituted at half-time, Slot said: “I don't think there's a rule that every single player is the same. But it also depends on what did he do when he didn't train with the team, what is the impact if you go to a new club as a big signing? So you cannot compare maybe a player that hasn't trained or played in pre-season at a smaller club than if you go to Liverpool. There are many factors that you have to take into account and there's not one thing if it's possible or not. I think we did exactly what was needed, we were really careful with him. The Swedish national team in the first time as well.
“They played him twice last time, which he could do, so not criticising the Swedish national team because we actually told them that he's ready to play twice. It's a thin balance if you missed out on pre-season. Some march through it and some unfortunately get injured again.”
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