Arne Slot has explained why record signing Alexander Isak was left out of Liverpool’s squad for their Premier League clash against Burnley.
The champions returned from the international break aiming to extend their perfect start to the season at Turf Moor. Many fans expected to see Isak feature after his £125m move from Newcastle United, which capped off a £400m summer overhaul at Anfield.
The Swedish striker, who scored 62 goals in 109 games for Newcastle, became the third most expensive player in football history after pushing for a move away from St. James’ Park. However, his lack of match fitness has delayed his Liverpool debut.
Slot told Sky Sports that Isak’s absence was due to limited training and game time over the summer, with the striker only playing 15–20 minutes for Sweden during the break. With Liverpool facing three games in seven days—against Burnley, Atletico Madrid, and Everton—Slot decided to prioritize his conditioning.
“Not today,” Slot said. “He didn’t train with Newcastle, barely played with Sweden, and with this schedule we think it’s better for him to have a full week of training. I can assure the fans he will be involved on Wednesday against Atletico Madrid. This match just came too soon.”
