'He needs proper playing time' - Arne Slot hints at Alexander Isak timetable after leaving £125m British-record signing out of squad for late Burnley win

Isak, who finds himself at Anfield after successfully forcing his way through the exits at Newcastle, has been training with his new employers. No risks were taken on his fitness at Turf Moor, as a late Mohamed Salah penalty earned Liverpool a fourth dramatic win of the 2025-26 campaign.  

Having spent much of the summer on strike at St James’ Park, Isak is lacking match fitness and sharpness. With that in mind, Slot will not be rushing Liverpool’s record signing into his starting XI.  

Slot said of Isak after lacking an attacking spark for much of a 1-0 victory over battling Burnley: “You make a choice for a good reason, for a good argument. That choice was because he missed out for four months on team training. He's in his second or third week of pre-season. We have given him a proper week and then we think maybe he will get more than 10 or 15 minutes in our Wednesday game and that's the way to build him up. He needs proper playing time but also build him up so he has a good base.”  

Isak appears to have been lined up for a Liverpool bow off the bench in a Champions League opener against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday. That contest will introduce him to the Anfield faithful before a derby date with Merseyside neighbours Everton on September 20.