LIVERPOOL, England (AP) – Liverpool striker Alexander Isak will return to first-team training after three weeks out on Friday ahead of the team’s blockbuster Premier League game against Manchester City.
Isak, who joined Liverpool for a British record $170 million in the summer transfer window, has missed the last four games for Liverpool due to injury. groin problems.
It continued a slow start to life at Anfield for Isak, who had been training away from Newcastle’s main squad in pre-season while fueling a move to Liverpool. He has scored just one goal in eight competitive games for his new club.
“I know I said three weeks ago that his pre-season was over,” Liverpool manager Arne Slott said. “So now it’s time to see where he is.”
Slott said Isak’s recent injury problems have hampered the striker’s attempts to regain full sharpness after an interrupted pre-season.
“Again, give him some time,” Slott said.
Liverpool started the season with seven consecutive wins, but an unexpected slump in form saw them drop six of their next seven games, with their only victory coming against Aston Villa in the Premier League. Real Madrid in the Champions League Over the last week.
Under the circumstances, beating City away on Sunday and scoring a hat-trick in nine days would be some achievement for Liverpool, who have now closed seven points behind leaders Arsenal in the title race.
Slot classifies this as one of the biggest games in world football, “Classico” Between Real Madrid and Barcelona in Spain.
“It’s a very interesting match and I’m really looking forward to it. When I wasn’t working here and working in the Netherlands, I knew when City vs. Liverpool or Liverpool vs. City was being played. I can say with 100% certainty that I was in front of the TV when this game was being shown,” the Dutchman said. “Like the Clasico, these are the few matches that everyone looks forward to.
“What I like about (City manager) Josep Guardiola’s teams is that 10 times out of 10, we get the results we expect. There are no great football matches, no wasted time or anything like that that I am starting to hate more and more about football,” added Slott.
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