Before Liverpool’s meeting with Aston Villa, Arne Slot gave an update on the fitness of Alexander Isak.
Next week brings the final Premier League game of the season, and it is set to be an emotional afternoon at Anfield. Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson are saying goodbye, with Brentford the visitors for what could be a significant farewell fixture.
Isak was not included in the matchday squad against Villa, which came as a surprise. Cody Gakpo was left to lead the line again, but Slot gave a relatively positive assessment of the striker’s condition ahead of next weekend.
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Arne Slot says Alexander Isak has a minor injury
Isak has had a disrupted first season at Liverpool.
The striker missed pre-season, suffered a broken leg, returned to the side, and is now absent again with another issue. Slot suggested this latest setback could be linked to the difficulty of building rhythm after such a stop-start campaign.
Speaking to Sky Sports, the Liverpool manager said: “Alex has a minor injury, but it’s something we all understand.
“If you miss pre-season then have a broken leg, when you come back, then it’s not a surprise you can pick up minor injuries like that.”
That at least makes it sound as though Isak has not suffered anything serious.
Liverpool will need him to have a full pre-season this summer. He cannot afford to keep breaking down, especially with Hugo Ekitike also set to miss significant time.
There is clearly a top striker in there, but Isak has not been able to build the consistency or sharpness required since arriving at Anfield. That has fed into some of the criticism around him.
Hopefully, Slot is right and this is only a minor issue.
It would be good for Isak’s confidence, and useful for quietening some of the doubts, if he could return against Brentford and end the season on a high.
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