Isak starts for Liverpool in Champions League opener against Atletico Madrid

Alexander Isak will make his Liverpool debut from the start, leading the line in the Reds' Champions League opener against Atletico Madrid at Anfield. The Sweden international joined Liverpool in a club-record £125 million deal from Newcastle United on deadline day after a summers-long dispute and arrived amid high expectations from supporters who have waited for his first appearance in red.

Isak's fitness has been a concern, having played only 18 minutes of competitive football in the past four months. The forward's protracted move followed public friction with Newcastle over the summer, and he was left out of Liverpool's squad for their 1-0 victory over Burnley on Sunday as the club prepared for the Atletico test.

Manager Arne Slot indicated there was a real chance Isak could feature, provided he is in the squad and is deemed fit enough. He stressed that if Isak starts, it would be unlikely that he would last the full 90 minutes, given the need to manage his return to full match sharpness. Isak will lead the Liverpool attack, flanked by Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo.

The selection represents three changes to the side that beat Burnley, with Andy Robertson and Jeremie Frimpong coming in at full-back along with Isak's inclusion in attack.

Liverpool arrive at the game with a perfect four-win start to the Premier League campaign and will also face a demanding Champions League group that includes Galatasaray, Eintracht Frankfurt, Real Madrid, PSV, Inter Milan, Marseille and Qarabag. Liverpool topped the group stage of last season's new format but were eliminated in the last 16 on penalties by eventual winners PSG.

As Isak aims to justify a club-record outlay, Liverpool will be watching how quickly he can adapt to the intensity of European football and link up with Salah and Gakpo, while the squad tries to balance domestic duties with a deep, continental run.