Isak Left Out of Matchday Squad
In a notable development ahead of Liverpool’s upcoming fixture against Burnley, Alexander Isak has been left out of the matchday squad following his high-profile transfer from Newcastle United. The Swedish forward was acquired for a staggering £125 million, marking a record transaction in British football. However, Isak has faced challenges in recent weeks; he hasn’t taken to the pitch in a competitive setting since the last match of the previous season. Although he was named to the Swedish national team for the recent international break, he saw limited action – remaining an unused substitute against Slovenia and managing only 18 minutes of play in a loss to Kosovo.
Coach’s Comments on Isak’s Readiness
Liverpool’s head coach, Arne Slot, addressed the media on Friday regarding Isak’s readiness, praising Swedish manager Jon Dahl Tomasson for making prudent decisions regarding the striker’s playing time to prevent potential injuries.
“Tomasson deserves commendation for allowing one of the top strikers in the world to contribute without risking overload,”
Slot remarked. He added that Liverpool will adopt a similarly cautious approach with Isak, emphasizing that fans should not expect him to play full matches week after week due to his lack of preseason training, which left him absent from several months of team sessions.
Long-Term Vision for Isak
Recognizing the importance of long-term player health, Slot stated,
“Our goal is to integrate Alex gradually into our system amidst a busy match schedule and minimal training opportunities.”
He reassured that, despite the immediate context, Liverpool has signed Isak with a long-term vision in mind, spanning six years, which will inform how he is utilized during matches.
Match Preview: Liverpool vs. Burnley
For the match against Burnley, Slot has opted to maintain the same starting lineup that secured a 1-0 victory against Arsenal previously, with summer recruit Hugo Ekitike positioned to lead the attack.
Starting Lineups
The Liverpool starting lineup features: Alisson, Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Wirtz, Gakpo, Salah, and Ekitike. The substitutes include Mamardashvili, Gomez, Endo, Bradley, Chiesa, Robertson, Frimping, Nyoni, and Ngumoha.
Burnley, on the other hand, will field a lineup consisting of Dubravka, Walker, Ekdal, Esteve, Hartman, Cullen, Ugochukwu, Tchaouna, Laurent, Anthony, and Foster, with substitutes such as Weiß, Worrall, Edwards, Humphreys, Florentino, Flemming, Pires, Broja, and Hannibal on the bench.
