Key Takeaways:
- Alexander Isak has now completed six weeks of pre-season preparation at Liverpool
- The forward has featured for a total of 313 minutes in six matches, scoring once against Southampton in the League Cup
- Manager Arne Slot confirmed Isak is ready to play ahead of the upcoming fixture against Manchester United
Isak’s Integration into the Liverpool Squad
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has stated that striker Alexander Isak is finally in a position to contribute fully to the club, following an intensive period of preparation. Isak made his move to Liverpool for a record British football fee of 125 million pounds, yet saw limited time on the pitch. He has featured for only 313 minutes across six appearances – since transferring from Newcastle on the final day of the window, after the club made significant efforts to secure his signature for Anfield. His sole goal so far came in the League Cup victory against Southampton, and he had missed the entire pre-season training with the team.
Arne Slot on Isak’s fitness:
“He’s finally at a good place, he’s done 5-6 weeks of preseason. We can now judge him fairly.” 🇸🇪 pic.twitter.com/mxmoIneF5v
— The Anfield Buzz (@TheAnfieldBuzz) October 17, 2025
International and Club Performances to Date
Beyond his appearances for Liverpool, Isak also spent 198 minutes representing the Swedish national side, though he was unable to register a goal across World Cup qualifying fixtures against Kosovo and Switzerland. Despite these early challenges and the absence of a pre-season, Arne Slot now believes the 26-year-old has reached the expected level needed for competitive action.
| Competition | Minutes Played | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Liverpool (All Competitions) | 313 | 1 |
| Sweden (International) | 198 | 0 |
Managerial Perspective and Outlook
Prior to the upcoming trip to Manchester United, Slot explained the significance of the recent training spell for Isak, highlighting: “I think now he has gone through six weeks of pre-season preparation, which is normal for any player – especially if you’ve been out three or four months,” said the Dutchman.
Slot elaborated on the expectations and pressures surrounding international duties, stating: “From a physical preparation perspective, he is close to the level where he needs to be, and from now on we can evaluate him in a fair way. I know how things are thought of in football: if he plays twice for Sweden and doesn’t score, of course, it’s not what you hope for”.
Slot concluded: “You hope that when they go to their national teams they score goals like Cody Gakpo, like Virgil van Dijk, like Dominik Szoboszlai, like Alexis Mac Allister, but he didn’t do it. His pre-season may now be over. He has played several matches of 70, 80, 90 minutes, so let’s see how he does in the coming weeks,” the Reds’ manager concluded.
