New Sweden manager Graham Potter has offered an injury update on Liverpool striker Alexander Isak
Alexander Isak has missed Liverpool's last four matches with a groin injury
Alexander Isak has missed Liverpool's last four matches with a groin injury(Image: (Photo by Matt West/Shutterstock))
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Graham Potter has admitted that Alexander Isak is ‘not ready’ to start back-to-back games following a recent groin injury but is hopeful he can make his return from injury against Manchester City on Sunday. The Liverpool striker has missed the Reds’ last four matches since limping off at half-time in their victory over Eintracht Frankfurt.
Liverpool suffered back-to-back defeats to Brentford and Crystal Palace in his absence, before returning to form with impressive victories over Aston Villa and Real Madrid.
Despite his recent lay-off, Isak was included in the Sweden squad for the upcoming November international break. And his new international manager, Potter, has now offered an update on the striker as he explained his inclusion.
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“They (Isak and Lucas Bergvall) are available. We will see this weekend,” Potter said. “But Alex is not ready to play 90 minutes in two games in four days.
"But he is available and I look forward to meeting him.
“We’ll see this weekend. Hopefully he can play against Manchester City (on Sunday) and be with us in Malaga."
Sweden take on Switzerland on Saturday 15 November before hosting Slovenia on Tuesday 18 November in their final two qualifiers ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
They currently sit bottom of Group B, having picked up just a point from their opening four matches, with former manager Jon Dahl Tomasson losing his job last month after three successive losses.
Liverpool travel to Man City on Sunday in their final outing before the November international break, with Reds head coach Arne Slot previously revealing that Isak could make his return from injury at the Etihad.
However, speaking ahead of his side’s clash with Real Madrid, the Dutchman conceded that the striker would not be fit enough to start.
"With Alex, we have to wait and see,” he said. “Definitely not starting on Sunday but maybe involved in the squad.
"He is still not training with the team so we have to wait and see."
Slot will offer a further update on Isak on Friday morning at his pre-match press conference ahead of Liverpool's trip to Man City
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Isak has made eight appearances for Liverpool, returning a goal and an assist, since joining the Reds in a British record £125m switch on transfer deadline day.
However, he has struggled to showcase his best form having had to play catch-up after a disjointed pre-season which saw him go on strike and train alone in a bid to force an exit from former club Newcastle United.