When will Alexander Isak be fully fit? Liverpool warned it could be weeks before £125m man reaches peak match sharpness after detrimental summer transfer saga

Isak has made a steady, if unspectacular, start to his Liverpool career. He missed Newcastle's pre-season and his fitness has been a key focus. Manager Arne Slot and the club have carefully eased him into the team, balancing his minutes between starting and substitute appearances. Isak himself acknowledged the gradual build-up needed after his disjointed summer preparations. Sweden manager Jon Dahl Tomasson has praised Liverpool's handling of Isak's fitness, noting his improved condition but admitting uncertainty about his ability to play a full 90 minutes.

Daily Mail reporter Lewis Steele, who covers Liverpool, said in his vlog: "The road to full fitness is a little bit longer than expected, and there’s a report from one of the Newcastle guys, saying they expect it to be three months until he’s fully fit. And that is probably about right. He’s been at Liverpool now for four or five weeks, so maybe we are now probably another three or four weeks away from seeing Isak at his best. There have been glimpses, lovely assist on Saturday and he got his goal against Southampton, to be fair he’s got to score that, but he had to be in the right place at the right time. But, the road to full fitness does seem a bit bumpier than me or Slot predicted. But, as I said with Salah, if he gets a bit of confidence, it should be all good."

Isak faced considerable delays and complications, with several factors contributing to the transfer saga. Newcastle's desire to retain their star striker, particularly after a successful 2024-25 season where Isak was instrumental in their Carabao Cup victory and Premier League performance, was a primary hurdle. They also valued him at a higher price initially, and were not under immediate pressure to sell due to his existing contract. Isak publicly expressed his wish to leave Newcastle, citing "broken promises" and a desire for a change. While he had a contract with Newcastle until 2028, his conduct, including training separately and missing pre-season fixtures, placed pressure on the club. The Magpies struggled to land their primary targets throughout the summer, including Benjamin Sesko and Hugo Ekitike (who also eventually joined Liverpool), delaying Isak's departure. Despite Liverpool's substantial offers, Newcastle's state-backed ownership may have initially been reluctant to sell their talisman due to the potential reputational damage of losing a key player and the difficulty of replacing him. Ultimately, the transfer was finalised on deadline day after the Magpies secured Nick Woltemade from Stuttgart and Yoane Wissa from Brentford, clearing the path for Isak's move to Anfield.

So, what happens if Isak is still struggling for full fitness in a months’ time? The calendar is packed and, after the current international break ends, the Reds have fixtures against Manchester United, Eintracht Frankfurt, Brentford, Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and the hotly-awaited clash with Real Madrid in the Champions League. For Liverpool fans, a fully fit Isak cannot return soon enough.