Arne Slot Stunned by Alexander Isak's Explosive Liverpool Debut Performance
Liverpool boss Arne Slot has revealed his surprise at how well new signing Alexander Isak performed in his first appearance, with the striker's conditioning exceeding the Dutch manager's expectations.
Isak joined Liverpool later than planned following a period away from Newcastle United that left him lacking match sharpness when he completed his club-record £125 million ($170.5 million) move to Anfield.
Having excluded Isak from the squad for the recent Burnley victory, Slot had cautioned supporters that their new forward wasn't prepared for extended playing time, indicating that more than 45 minutes against Atlético Madrid on Wednesday would be unexpected.
Isak ultimately featured for a full hour in the thrilling 3–2 triumph, prompting Slot to share his assessment of the Swedish striker.
"I was pleasantly shocked by his fitness levels during those 60 minutes, which perhaps highlights the advantage of acquiring a 25- or 26-year-old experienced in this division rather than a 20-year-old from another competition," Slot acknowledged.
"Despite only training for a fortnight, his extensive match experience likely enabled him to handle 60 minutes more effectively.
"His fitness impressed me, though his talent didn't surprise me since we're all aware of his abilities. You don't need coaching credentials to recognize his exceptional skill level. It's encouraging when a player begins as strongly as he did, similar to Hugo Ekitiké's impressive start.
"A promising debut, just 60 minutes, and now we'll gradually increase his involvement. However, he definitely won't play the full 90 minutes on Saturday against Everton."
Taking Isak's place against Atlético was fellow newcomer Ekitiké. The French forward has made a spectacular impact in England, scoring three times in six appearances, with Slot emphasizing that Ekitiké will continue receiving significant playing opportunities despite Isak's arrival.
"I'm delighted he could make his debut today. That's precisely why we rested him against Burnley," Slot added. "His performance was solid, and Hugo made a substantial contribution when he entered the match.
"We possess two excellent strikers and will utilize both throughout their time with us."