Arne Slot urges patience over Alexander Isak fitness ahead of Burnley trip
British record signing has played just 18 minutes in four months and will be eased into the Liverpool side, manager says
Arne Slot warned supporters not to expect Alexander Isak to play full matches for the next few weeks as Liverpool prepare to face Burnley on Sunday, saying the club will build the £125 million signing up gradually after a prolonged spell without competitive action.
Isak completed his deadline-day move from Newcastle following months of speculation and a protracted transfer saga, but the Sweden striker had not played since mid-May until a brief substitute appearance for his national team on Monday. Slot said Isak has logged only about 18 minutes of competitive football in the past four months and missed a proper pre-season and several months of team training.
"Don't expect him to be playing every single game for 90 minutes on the pitch," Slot said. "That's definitely not going to happen for the next few weeks. He missed a proper pre-season. He missed three or four months of team sessions, so now we have to build him up gradually with us playing so many games and hardly any training time."
Slot framed the decision as a long-term one, noting that the club had committed to the striker on a multi-year contract. "We have not just signed him for the upcoming two weeks, we have signed him for six years," Slot said. He asked fans to understand if Isak is substituted or used only for brief periods early on, saying such measures are "for the fitness of the player." Slot also praised Sweden manager Jon Dahl Tomasson for managing Isak's minutes at international level, saying Tomasson was mindful of the player's long-term welfare.
The manager also paid tribute to Liverpool's recruitment staff for securing the British-record transfer. Slot discussed another late transfer saga involving Crystal Palace captain Marc Guéhi, acknowledging the club came close to signing the defender before Palace withdrew from the deal at the eleventh hour. "It would be ridiculous if I denied we were close to signing him," Slot said, adding that such developments are part of football business.
Liverpool head to Turf Moor with a perfect start to the domestic campaign, and Slot confirmed defensive reinforcement Jeremie Frimpong has returned to training this week. Midfielder Curtis Jones remains the only confirmed absentee for the visit to Burnley.
Slot's remarks come as the champions balance a congested fixture list with the need to integrate a marquee signing who has had limited match practice. The club's cautious approach mirrors a broader trend among teams signing players late in the summer window or those returning from extended absences: managers prioritise gradual load management to reduce the risk of injury and protect a player's availability for the season ahead.
Liverpool's immediate challenge is to maintain form while managing playing time across a deep squad. How quickly Isak adapts to Slot's demands and to regular Premier League action will depend on training minutes, match situations and how medical staff monitor his recovery after the months away from team sessions.