Liverpool striker Alexander Isak has reported for international duty with Sweden in the hope of kickstarting his spluttering season.
Isak has failed to hit the ground running following a £120m move from Newcastle United, leading to concerns that the Reds may have made an expensive mistake.
Fellow big-money signing Florian Wirtz is also struggling to make his mark, with Liverpool‘s summer business starting to look concerningly like a series of poor decisions.
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Isak‘s disappointing start has recently been compounded by a groin injury, which has seen him miss each of Liverpool’s last four fixtures.
The Swede was at least back in the matchday squad for Sunday’s trip to Manchester City, but did not emerge from the bench despite a turgid Liverpool display.
Given his recent return from injury, perhaps it made sense for Arne Slot not to risk his No. 9. However, new Sweden boss Graham Potter has now made a fitness admission on Isak which makes Slot’s decision look all the more baffling.
Alexander Isak of Sweden during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Sweden and Switzerland at Strawberry Arena.
Photo by Michael Campanella/Getty Images
Alexander Isak has no fitness issues
Isak’s somewhat chequered injury history was perhaps the biggest red flag for Liverpool spending such a huge amount of money on him this summer.
Only eight games into his career at Anfield, and Isak’s fitness has already come into question.
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According to Potter, however, the 26-year-old has reported for international duty with ‘no problems’, only days after sitting out of Liverpool’s limp performance at the Etihad Stadium.
“Alexander is here. I spoke to him briefly. He is doing well, has no problems,” the Englishman said via Fotboll Skanlen.
While that is blatantly good news for Liverpool, it should also make fans question why Slot did not turn to Isak last Sunday.
Hugo Ekitike was non-existent against Man City, and it was clear that the Reds needed something different up front. Surely Isak could have come on to lead the line during the second-half.
The camera found the former Newcastle man looking a little perplexed more than once as he sat on the bench on Sunday. After Potter’s latest update, Liverpool fans would be justified in feeling the same.
Isak has to improve after international break
Had Liverpool been playing a game of lesser importance on Sunday, Slot’s decision to protect Isak would have been much more understandable.
It is also possible that the Liverpool head coach made his call based on the game state. Had his team been in with more of a shout of getting something at City, Isak may have come on.
Nevertheless, it is not a good look to have your British record transfer signing sitting on the bench as you take a walloping from a potential Premier League title rival. Questions should be asked.
Once he returns from representing his country, the heat is also likely to ramp up on Isak. Liverpool fans have given him an easy ride so far, but he must begin to deliver once the festive period begins.
The big worry will be that Potter and Sweden overuse Isak and hand him another fitness issue before his return to Merseyside. If he comes back fitter and raring to go, though, the sight of him on the Liverpool bench should not be one supporters get used to.