Man City 3-0 Liverpool: Match Review
Liverpool striker Alexander Isak was an unused substitute in Sweden’s 1-1 draw against Slovenia.
The striker has had a soft launch to his Liverpool career despite a £125 million British record arrival. Isak’s disrupted pre-season at Newcastle United as he pursued a move to Anfield meant that he arrived well short of the levels required. And after taking around six weeks to get up to speed, a groin injury put him back in his search for full sharpness.
In the 3-0 defeat by Manchester City before the international break, Isak was an unused substitute and was not risked despite Liverpool’s hopes of defending the Premier League title taking its latest blow.
The 25-year-old would have hoped he could build fitness levels while on Sweden duty. Newly-appointed head coach Graham Potter had warned that Isak would not be able to start both games and he played 29 minutes in a 4-1 loss to Switzerland. That ended their hopes of finishing runners-up in Group B to qualify for next year’s World Cup. But Sweden still have a chance to reach the tournament as they are in the play-offs because of their Nations League ranking.
Isak role explained
As a result, Sweden’s clash against Slovenia on Tuesday night was a dead rubber and Isak was left on the bench for the 1-1 draw. Ahead of the game, Blagult chief Stefan Patterson warned that nine players were at risk of missing March’s play-off because of suspension rules. Had Isak picked up a booking against Slovenia, he would have been banned.
Patterson told Sportbladet: “We are getting some supplementary letters from Fifa and Uefa about these things. I want to double-check what they might say. Before the next match we will know with 100 percent certainty what applies. There is no panic about it now.
“It certainly can [impact team selectin]. But it is Graham (Potter) who makes the final decisions regarding the team selection. But it is clear that it can have an impact.”
After the game, Potter confessed that the situation was ‘not ideal’ but didn’t want any of his squad at risk playing within themselves. The former Chelsea and West Ham boss said: “Not an ideal situation. You don't want players who go on the pitch and can't be aggressive. You're not yourself then.”
Will Alexander Isak be fit for Liverpool vs Forest?
Isak will return to Merseyside as Liverpool’s Premier League campaign recommences against Nottingham Forest on Saturday. It is highly likely that the ex-Real Sociedad centre-forward will not be fit enough to start the game given his fitness levels. Before the City loss, Reds coach Arne Slot admitted that patience is once again needed with fitness.
He said: “After being three weeks out. I know that I said three weeks ago his pre-season has ended, so now it's time for us to see where he is. "But I have to come back to those words, because if you're three weeks only with rehab, that doesn't bring you back to the levels he was three weeks ago.
"Our rehab team is doing an incredible job, but you cannot compare rehab to games of football or training with the team. As much as we try to replicate that that's simply not possible. Again, I have to say, give him some time."
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