Arne Slot offers Alexander Isak fitness update as Liverpool star makes injury return

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Arne Slot has offered a fitness update on Alexander Isak after the Swede made his Liverpool debut against Atletico Madrid in midweek.

The striker joined the Reds on transfer deadline day in a British record £125m deal.

After essentially being on strike at Newcastle United throughout the summer in a bid to force an exit, Isak completed 58 minutes against the La Liga outfit on an eye-catching maiden appearance for Liverpool as he made his first start since the final day of last season.

Speaking after facing Atletico, Slot admitted that Isak would definitely not play 90 minutes against Everton.

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And while he refused to confirm whether the Swede would retain his starting berth against the Blues on Saturday, Slot confirmed Isak was feeling the ill-effects following his debut and still needs to be managed carefully.

“I don’t think I tell the media a lot the day before the game, how we start the game!” he said at his pre-match press conference.

“We had recovery yesterday, we’re going to train this afternoon.

“So first of all we have to see how they all feel.

What I do know is that Alex did feel his body more maybe than ever before after the 60 minutes he played.

“So let’s see how he’s recovered today and then we’ll think about the line-up, mainly today, and you will hear it tomorrow.”

Hugo Ekitike is expected to lead the line for Liverpool against Everton if Isak does drop out.

And Slot shared his delight at his plethora of attacking options as he shared that he has a fully fit and available squad to choose from for Saturday’s Merseyside derby.

“I consider (if Ekitike could play upfront with Isak), of course, because you consider many things,” he said.

“It depends always on how well they are doing.

“If both of them are in the best form of their life, you even consider more playing them together.

“But it’s also quite clear that we have a certain structure which has mainly been 4-3-3, playing with three midfielders.

“But the amount of time, in the end phase of the game we’ve played with two nines.

This is the good thing about our squad, we have multiple options.

“But first of all they all have to stay fit for me to have these options.