Arne Slot has addressed the fitness of new signing Alexander Isak ahead of Liverpool’s Merseyside derby showdown with Everton.
The Swedish striker made his debut for the Reds in midweek against Atlético Madrid, featuring for an hour as Liverpool sealed an important European victory. However, Slot admitted the forward felt the intensity of his first outing in red after a quiet summer with limited minutes.
“We had recovery yesterday and will train again this afternoon, so we need to see how everyone is feeling,” Slot told reporters. “What I do know is that Alex felt his body more than ever after the 60 minutes he played. We’ll assess him today before deciding on the line-up for tomorrow.”
Liverpool’s demanding schedule has placed added pressure on the squad, with the derby coming just days after fixtures against Burnley and Atlético Madrid. Slot acknowledged the challenge of preparing his players for three matches in a single week but stressed the importance of recovery and rotation.
On a brighter note, Curtis Jones has returned to contention, giving the Dutch manager more options as he weighs up his team selection for Saturday’s early kick-off at Anfield.
Isak, meanwhile, will continue to be monitored closely as Liverpool look to manage his integration into the squad without risking his fitness so early in the season.
