Liverpool Boss Reveals How He Plans to Get Record Signing Alexander Isak Firing

Liverpool manager Arne Slot admits that the club's record-breaking acquisition, Alexander Isak, won't be able to hit the ground running in the team's initial matches due to the demanding schedule, which includes the start of the Champions League campaign.

The Swedish international, signed from Newcastle for a reported £125 million, was left out of the squad for the hard-fought 1-0 victory over Burnley, secured by a stoppage-time penalty. Isak missed a significant portion of pre-season training due to his contract disputes with Newcastle.

"When you start the season after players have had five weeks off, you give them a certain foundation to be able to play 45 minutes," said Slot, whose team kicks off their Champions League season at home against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.

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"We brought him in from Newcastle, and we've seen that his preparation is essentially just beginning now. He needs more minutes in training before he can build up a proper base. There's no way we can have him playing twice in three days," the specialist stated, as quoted by BTA.

"We try to prepare players at the start of the season to play once a week, and then we do more to get them into a rhythm for three matches a week. Alex is far from that schedule, but we could use him for five minutes today, 10 on Wednesday, and then 15, but I don't believe that's the way to utilise him," Slot emphasised.

"In Sweden, they did the right thing by having him train well without playing much, and we will do the same so he can manage 45 minutes on Wednesday. But if he plays a full half on Wednesday, don't expect him to do the same on Saturday, because his body isn't ready for that," the manager explained.