Arne Slot offers an update on Alexander Isak’s fitness and confirms multiple other Liverpool injuries ahead of the crucial Premier League match against Manchester City.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has revised his previous assessment of Alexander Isak’s fitness, urging fans and media to give the striker more time to reach his best following a recent groin injury.
Slot delivered the update ahead of the Premier League champions’ crucial trip to face Manchester City on Sunday, according to Liverpool World reporting.
Isak, the club’s £125 million British record signing, has missed Liverpool’s last four matches due to the injury, although he has been included in Sweden’s squad for the upcoming international break.
The striker’s arrival at the club found him short of match fitness, which led to a cautious approach from the club in building up his conditioning.
Earlier, Slot had suggested Isak’s pre-season preparation was complete: “Now he has had his five, six weeks of pre-season which is normal for every player, especially if you have been out for three or four months. Fitness-wise he is close to the level he should be and we can judge him in a fair way from now on.”
However, speaking at his pre-City press conference, Slot confirmed Isak was only just returning to team training, requiring the manager to “come back to those words”:
“He will train for the first time today with the team again after three weeks out. I said three weeks ago that his pre-season has ended. It’s time for us to see where he is at. I have to come back to those words because if you are three weeks in rehab, that doesn’t bring you back to the levels you were three weeks ago.
Although our team have done a great job, you can’t compare rehab with games of football or training sessions with the team. That’s simply not possible. Again, I’ve to say give him some time.”
The setback means Slot is now delaying a “fair” assessment of the forward’s capabilities, prioritizing a gradual return to match sharpness over the coming weeks.