Arne Slot ends Alexander Isak mystery and issues clear response to Liverpool critics
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Arne Slot speaks at the press conference to preview Liverpool's Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid at AnfieldArne Slot reckons Alexander Isak is primed to make his eagerly-anticipated Liverpool deubt - while defending the Reds' eye-watering £450m summer splurge.
Isak, a £125m deadline day capture from Newcastle United, could feature when Slot's men kick off their Champions League campaign against La Liga outfit Atletico Madrid at Anfield on Wednesday night.
The striker sat out Sunday's Premier League triumph at Burnley to focus on his conditioning after managing just one fleeting appearance for Sweden since last season concluded.
And Slot revealed: "There is definitely a chance (Isak will play) because he is in the squad.
The only thing that is sure is that he will not play 90, and all the rest we will see.", reports the Liverpool Echo.
Isak boasts only six previous Champions League outings across spells with former clubs Borussia Dortmund and Newcastle.
When quizzed about the biggest hurdle now confronting the big-money forward, Slot continued: "Getting fit after missing four months of proper team sessions.
"He doesn't have to prove to anyone he is good enough to play in the Premier League because that is what he has proven already at Newcastle.
"He has to become so fit that he is first of all ready to do what he did last season.
That is our model and I think we should get praise.
"It is only a compliment that people tell everyone we have spent so much because that tells you the players we brought in are seen as very good players.
"All the money we have spent we generated ourselves by selling and by winning the league."
Wirtz in particular has faced scrutiny following a sluggish beginning to his Anfield career, with the 22-year-old Germany international yet to feature for a complete 90 minutes.
However, Slot remarked: "There is so much focus on Florian, but the ones that have stayed behind as part of a team haven't scored four goals or got 12 assists either.
"He is part for team that is top of the league, that won against Newcastle and Arsenal, where the team of last season didn't win.
He is part of a team that is number one in the league at the moment."
Alexis Mac Allister has bounced back from the ankle problem that saw him withdrawn at the interval during the Burnley clash, though Curtis Jones continues his absence after sustaining an injury last month in the Arsenal fixture.
"Curtis will train with the team tomorrow so hopefully he is able to be in the squad on Saturday," said Slot on Tuesday.
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