'They're going to be smart' - Liverpool WON'T start £125m summer signing Alexander Isak against Burnley this weekend claims Premier League legend

All eyes will be on Turf Moor this weekend with Isak, 25, in line to make his eagerly-anticipated debut for the Reds. The striker put an end to the summer-long saga surrounding his future as he moved to Anfield from Newcastle United for a British transfer record fee of £125 million (€144.5m/$169m) on deadline day.

However former Liverpool midfielder Cole is expecting Isak to only emerge from the bench against Burnley, citing the Sweden international's lack of fitness after refusing to feature in Newcastle's opening three Premier League fixtures against Aston Villa, Liverpool and Leeds United.

In quotes carried by the London Evening Standard, Cole told Paddy Power: "I don't expect him [Isak] to go into the team straight away.

"I think they've got to be smart with him. And you've got to expect Liverpool to do that with all of their players - they've been blooded in. They are playing well. Ekitike’s scoring goals, there's no need to rush him.

"I think it's a smart thing to do, just to feed him in, let him come off the bench, let all the hoo-ha die down, and just let him figure out how to become a Liverpool player. There's no rush. It's not like they've lost two of the first three and they need him right at it. You know, come on with 20 minutes, half an hour to go, and see how he goes."

Isak earned his first minutes of the 2025-26 season when he came off the bench in Sweden's World Cup qualifier against Kosovo on Monday. The former Real Sociedad forward made an 18-minute cameo as his side slipped to a 2-0 defeat on the road.

It remains to be seen whether Isak will start when Liverpool travel to newly-promoted Burnley. Arne Slot's side have made the perfect start to the new Premier League season, winning their opening three games against Bournemouth, Newcastle and Arsenal.