When Will Alexander Isak Make His Liverpool Debut?

Arne Slot surprisingly left Isak out of Liverpool’s squad for Sunday’s Premier League victory over Burnley.

Alexander Isak joined Liverpool for a Premier League record £125 million fee on deadline day. / X / Liverpool.

The longest saga of the summer finally came to a conclusion on transfer deadline day as Alexander Isak secured his Premier League record move to Liverpool.

The Reds eventually negotiated a division-high fee of £125 million ($168 million) with Newcastle United for the Sweden international, who was desperate to join Liverpool under any circumstances.

The transfer took Liverpool’s total spend to a whopping £446.5 million—the most by an individual club in a single window in Premier League history—and the arrival of Isak adds another dimension to the club’s already star-studded attack.

Having been made to wait nervously for the deal to be completed, Liverpool supporters will be desperate to catch their first glimpse of Isak in a red shirt. Here’s when he could make his debut.

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When Will Alexander Isak Make His First Liverpool Appearance?

Isak won’t have to wait long for his Liverpool debut. / X/LFC

In his quest to force through a move to Anfield, Isak didn’t take part in pre-season with Newcastle at all. Up until September’s recent international break, he hadn’t turned out in a competitive fixture for any team since May. While his self-imposed exile ultimately earned him the desired outcome, it has left Isak with no semblance of match fitness.

Arne Slot did not want to rush his new star signing into action before he could withstand the pace of a Premier League encounter and went as far as to leave Isak out of his matchday squad for his side’s 1–0 win over Burnley, for which Hugo Ekitiké retained his spot in the starting lineup.

Explaining that decision, Slot confirmed Isak’s fitness levels were not good enough to feature just yet, but the boss revealed fans will not have to wait much longer to get a taste of their newest arrival.

Slot earmarked Wednesday, the start of Liverpool’s Champions League journey against Atlético Madrid, as the day for Isak’s debut, revealing the Sweden international will “definitely be involved.”

Just how great of a role Isak is handed remains to be seen. Given the initial concerns over his fitness, a cameo appearance off the bench appears most likely.

“You make a choice for a good reason, for a good argument,” Slot outlined when explaining Isak’s absence against Burnley. “That choice was because he missed out for four months on team training.

“He’s in his second or third week of pre-season. We have given him a proper week and then we think maybe he will get more than 10 or 15 minutes in our Wednesday game and that’s the way to build him up. He needs proper playing time but also build him up so he has a good base.”

Upcoming matches with Southampton in the Carabao Cup, Crystal Palace in the Premier League and Galatasaray in the Champions League should provide Isak with the opportunity to make his first start for Liverpool over the next few weeks.

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Liverpool’s Upcoming Fixtures

Date / Competition	Opponent (Venue)
Sept. 17 / Champions League	Atlético Madrid (H)
Sept. 20 / Premier League	Everton (H)
Sept. 23 / Carabao Cup	Southampton (H)
Sept. 27 / Premier League	Crystal Palace (A)
Sept. 30 / Champions League	Galatasaray (A)

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