Alexander Isak will be eased into action at the start of his Liverpool career after missing preseason due to his stand-off with Newcastle United.
Isak refused to train or take any part in Newcastle’s summer preparations as he demanded a move to Anfield, complaining that the club had “broken promises” over his future after a £110m bid from Liverpool was rejected.
The Swedish striker eventually secured his dream move on deadline day in a £125m transfer, before joining up with his national team. But he played only 18 minutes for Sweden across two World Cup qualifiers, and Liverpool manager Arne Slot says he will be equally careful with Isak’s workload.
“Don’t expect Alex to be on for 90 minutes in every game over the next few weeks,” Slot said, ahead of Liverpool’s trip to Burnley on Sunday. “He missed a proper preseason, three or four months of team sessions, we have to build him up gradually. With us playing so many games, hardly any training time, that’ll be a challenge.
“We haven’t signed him for not only the upcoming two weeks, but, I think, six years. That’s what we have to keep in mind. What the fans have to keep in mind, if I take him off at a certain moment, or I only bring him only for a small amount of minutes – it’s for the long term fitness of the player. In football there’s always criticism. It’s part of his life, my life, our jobs.”
Slot added: “The Swedish manager [Jon Dahl Tomasson] deserves a big compliment because he gets the best striker in the world but understands if he plays 90 minutes twice, he might be injured for a number of weeks. We will treat him the same as they did.”
The manager said he has barely spoken to Isak despite the long summer transfer saga and he is looking forward to get to know his new acquisition.
“Maybe you don’t believe me but I haven’t spoken to him that much. I phoned him after he signed and he had to go to Sweden but 99 per cent of the time during breaks, I leave the players for their national managers. I text him once or twice but I do have to get to know him in the upcoming days and weeks.
“We have such a great culture here at this club, so we sign players for his qualities and I know how good he is, what a quality player he is.”
Liverpool were also close to signing Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi on deadline day but a deal for the England international fell through.
“We would have liked to have signed him, of course,” said Slot. “I think it would be ridiculous if I will deny we were close, it was so out in the open, these things happen in football. If we feel we can strengthen the team we never hesitate to do so. It’s not like all of a sudden we don’t have options in that position.
“It’s a pity, not only for us but also for the player, I think. But he’s in a good place, playing for Palace, where he won the Community Shield and the FA Cup with a very good manager as well. Let’s see what the future brings.”
