Liverpool manager Arne Slot has stated that new signing Alexander Isak will be integrated slowly into the squad, emphasizing the need for patience with the club's record-breaking acquisition.
The Swedish striker joined Liverpool on the deadline day of the transfer window for a Premier League record fee of €145 million from Newcastle, with some reports suggesting the figure could rise to €150 million with add-ons.
Newcastle was not intended to let Isak leave initially and the player-club situation became complex for a few weeks, although he managed to land Anfield at the last moment of the transfer window. This caused Isak missing most of the preseason with his former club, leaving him short on match fitness.
"Don’t expect him to be playing every single game for 90 minutes on the pitch, as that is definitely not going to happen in the upcoming weeks," Slot said. "He missed a proper preseason... so now we have to build him up gradually, with us playing so many games."
Slot made the comments during the pre-match press conferences on Thursday.
Slot stressed that the club's focus is on Isak's long-term future, not his immediate impact. "We’ve signed him not only for the upcoming two weeks, we’ve signed him for six years. This is what we have to keep in mind," he said.
The manager also urged fans to be patient, explaining that any limited playing time is "all for the long-term fitness of the team."
Isak's recent international break reflected this cautious approach. The striker did not feature in Sweden's 2-2 World Cup qualifying draw against Slovenia and came on as a 72nd-minute substitute in their 2-0 loss to Kosovo. Slot praised Sweden's coach, Jon Dahl Tomasson, for not rushing Isak back into action.
"He gets one of the best, maybe the best striker in the world, and he needs to play two very important games for his country but understands if he would play him twice for 90 minutes, the player would probably be injured for multiple weeks," Slot said. "He deserves a big compliment for that."
Isak is expected to be included in the squad for Sunday's league match against Burnley but is likely to start on the bench.