Alexander Isak has been left out of the Liverpool squad to face Burnley in the Premier League on Sunday.
The striker is working his way back to fitness after missing pre-season with Newcastle United but was involved with Sweden over the international break, playing 20 minutes off the bench before returning to his new club.
Reds manager Arne Slot called for patience when it comes to Isak, admitting he is not yet fit enough for a major role, but fans will have to wait for their first sight of their new record signing as Isak has been left out of the squad altogether.
“We’ve decided it is the best for him to have a proper week of training instead of every time going for five or 10 minutes of playing,” Slot explained.
“I can assure the fans that he will be involved on Wednesday, but this game came a bit too early.”
“Isak is obviously short match fitness-wise and training-wise as well,” Jamie Carragher reacted on Sky Sports. “The manager and staff feel a few extra days training would be good for him and he maybe he goes on the bench for the Champions League game against Atlético Madrid.
“Isak fits in at centre forward. When you pay that much for somebody, he is that quality. He will be like Mohamed Salah. When you see Liverpool play, you expect to see Salah and you will expect to see Isak as a centre forward.
“That may mean [Hugo] Ekitiké plays left but remember you have Cody Gakpo, he’s good as well. You have Florian Wirtz as well. That may be Liverpool’s first-choice front four and Ekitiké may have to fit in around that.”
Liverpool Starting XI: Alisson; Szoboszlai, Van Dijk, Konaté, Kerkez; Wirtz, Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Gakpo, Ekitiké.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Arne Slot Makes Shock Alexander Isak Decision for Liverpool’s Trip to Burnley.
