Manager has struggled to integrate the striker into the squad due to his lack of fitness
Arne Slot is worried that a long spell on the sidelines might make it even more difficult for Alexander Isak to get his Liverpool career on track.
The £125m striker was withdrawn at half-time during the 5-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt after feeling discomfort in his groin, prompting fears that his stuttering start at Anfield could face another setback.
Isak has struggled for fitness and form since his arrival from Newcastle, following a drawn-out transfer saga that saw him miss pre-season. He has yet to complete a full 90 minutes under Slot.
“Alex had to go off at half-time and that’s not something you ask for,” said Slot. “He felt his groin, so let’s hope it’s not too bad.
“I’m hoping that this doesn’t have to be that bad because if he would be out now for a few weeks, that would throw him back or put him back. I don’t know how to say it. But it’s the difficult balance we were having with him.”
Slot has struggled to integrate the striker into the squad due to his lack of fitness. He was 4-5 weeks behind in fitness compared to the rest of the players in the Premier League when he joined.
“When he came, he had hardly trained,” said Slot. “You try to prepare players for once-a-week football, but if you are Liverpool and you play every three days, or normally three times in eight days, then you try to prepare them for that programme, which is not always so easy if you don’t have preseason. So that’s what we tried to do.
“He was perfectly fit when he came back from the national team and he was perfectly fit before the [Manchester] United game, so we were expecting him to be ready to play again [on Wednesday], which he did, but he felt his groin a little bit.
“I think we did exactly what was needed. We were really careful with him. The Swedish national team as well.
“They played him twice last time, which he could do, so I’m not criticizing at all the Swedish national team, because we actually told them that he’s ready to play twice.
“So it’s a thin balance if you missed out on preseason. Some march through it and some unfortunately get injured again.”
