The smoke has settled after the most chaotic transfer saga on the ball island. The battle for Alexander Isak was won by Liverpool, but the reigning Premier League champions had to shell out an astronomical £2.130 million (including bonus). A huge investment, where Liverpool have also made the Swede the club’s third highest paid player – before the first kick of the ball. Supporters have sky-high expectations for the Premier League’s second-highest scoring player last season, but should watch what happens in the Swedish national team to adjust those expectations.
Against Slovenia, in what was supposed to be a really close 2-2 game, Sweden’s national team coach chose to keep his super striker Isak on the bench. This was a game that could really use game-changer Isak at the top, but Jon Dahl Tomasson has seen that the 25-year-old is far from match fitness.
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“He had only completed three training sessions with the team. No pre-season with the team and of course no playing time. The risk is probably a little too big to use him today,” the Dane says to Viaplay.
Which opens up for Isak to get closer to playing against Kosovo on Monday.
“Hopefully, hopefully. As a “game-changer”, it comes from Sweden’s national team coach. That is, possibly a few minutes at the end of the match.
When a national team manager chooses to keep the Premier League’s best striker last season on the bench in a game that draws for a points draw, it says a lot about the form Alexander Isak is in. Liverpool fans should therefore lower their expectations for Isak’s contribution in the Premier League in the first few months. In the world’s toughest league, players who are not physically or mentally ready are punished very severely.
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We’re guessing Arne Slot and Liverpool won’t take any chances when it comes to the club’s biggest investment. Liverpool supporters will probably have to be patient.
