Liverpool boss Arne Slot explained why Alexander Isak was removed from the Reds team due to a Premier League clash with Burnley. Swedish International joined Liverpool from Newcastle on the transfer deadline, but has yet to make their debut for the Merseyside giants.
Isak retreated from Newcastle’s Asian preseason tour early this summer with a “minor thigh injury” and trained alone at former club Real Sociedad. He later told the Newcastle Chiefs he had no intention of reintegrating with other teams as he tried to force him to move to Anfield. His stance means he lacks match fitness. Swedish manager John Dahlthmason passed just 18 minutes of match time during his recent international break.
Liverpool returned to Premier League missions on Sunday to travel to Turf Moor to face Burnley.
However, with Hugo Ekitike backed by Mohamed Salah, Florian Wirtz and Cody Gakpo, Slot decided to skip Isak from his matchday team.
Regarding Isaac’s absence, the Liverpool boss told Sky Sports ahead of kickoff: “As everyone knew, he wasn’t team training in Newcastle. He then went to the national team and played for 15 or 20 minutes.
“It’s always hard to say to full speed (when he’s there). I gradually build it up with the right training sessions a week. Now, I play three games in seven days, so there’s very little proper training sessions with my team.
“Where is he, the second or third week of the preseason.
“But two days later, we’re playing Everton again, so it would be interesting to not only make the most of him from the start, but also make him available to the end.”
Liverpool enjoys a sensational start to their new season after scoring 10 points for a Premier League title in the slots Maiden campaign.
The Reds won the 2025/26 season, winning Bournemouth 4-2 last month, and then a 3-2 win at Newcastle.
And just before the international break, Slots led his team to a 1-0 victory over Arsenal as the Reds secured maximum points from the opening three games.
Isaac will be focusing on Liverpool’s debut when the Champions League league stages are ongoing mid-week. The Reds hosted Atletico Madrid on Wednesday evening, and Everton visited Anfield in the Merseyside Derby three days later.
