Alexander Isak was brought off at half-time in Liverpool’s 5-1 win over Frankfurt with injury, but Arne Slot insists the club “did exactly what was needed” with his fitness.
Isak made his fifth consecutive start for club and country on Wednesday night as part of a new-look attacking setup in Liverpool’s trip to Frankfurt.
But the striker only lasted 45 minutes before being replaced by Federico Chiesa, with Slot revealing after the game he had “felt his groin a little bit.”
It comes after playing the full 90 twice in four days for Sweden and then, after a gap of five days, again starting back-to-back games for Liverpool between Sunday and Wednesday.
Slot was asked about the No. 9s ‘pre-season’ – delayed until his £125 million move to Liverpool having not trained with Newcastle over the summer – in his pre-match press conference at Deutsche Bank Park.
And though he admitted it was a “thin balance” to strike with players as there are “many factors,” the head coach is confident Isak’s buildup of minutes was not rushed.
“I don’t think there’s a rule that every single player has the same,” he explained.
“But it also depends on what he did when he didn’t train with the team, what the impact is if you go to a new club as a big signing.
“So you cannot compare maybe a player who hasn’t trained or played in pre-season at a smaller club than if you go to Liverpool.
“There are many factors that you have to take into account and there is not one thing if it’s possible or not.
“I think we did exactly what was needed, we were really careful with him. The Swedish national team in the first [break] as well.
“Then they played him twice last time – which he could do, so not criticising at all the Swedish national team, because we actually told them that he’s ready to play twice.
“It’s a thin balance. If you missed out on pre-season then some march through it and some unfortunately get injured again.”
It remains to be seen how long Isak will be out for, with Slot telling reporters that he was “hoping that this does not have to be that bad.”
“If he would be out for a few weeks, that would throw him back,” he admitted. “So let’s wait.”
Clearly it was a necessary risk, particularly for a player of Isak’s profile, but now Liverpool are likely to be without him for at least the trip to Brentford on Saturday night.
Fortunately they have another centre-forward in outstanding form in Hugo Ekitike, while Chiesa is another accomplished option up front.
Slot will face a big call over whether to stick with his 4-2-4 shape or revert to this season’s usual 4-2-3-1, with Chiesa and Mohamed Salah both candidates to replace Isak if it is the former.
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