'I woud suspect': Alan Pardew predicts when Alexander Isak will make his Liverpool debut
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Liverpool’s star signing did not feature on the bench for their last-minute Premier League victory against Burnley.
It was expected by supporters that Alexander Isak may have a place on the bench after joining the Reds on deadline day and featuring in training sessions alongside the first team this week.
However, Arne Slot decided that his first appearance will have to wait and told reporters that Isak will make his debut on Wednesday in the Champions League against Atletico Madrid.
A European night is a perfect way to introduce yourself to the Liverpool faithful, especially at Anfield, where the Kop will be in full voice supporting their new £125 million star.
But the match at Turf Moor could have used a bit of Swedish brilliance, considering it was a poor performance from the side, despite Mohamed Salah being able to snatch a winner from the penalty spot after a Hannibal Mejbri handball.
Photo by Nikki Dyer – LFC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
The game did display why the club moved for another attacker, with no goals from open play and only three shots on target before Salah netted the winner.
Even if Scott Parker’s side defended incredibly well, Liverpool needed something special to break them down.
The new No.
9 will get a chance from the bench against Madrid to experience a taste of life in a red shirt, and with the Carabao Cup starting up again this month, it increases their options to provide him with some match fitness.
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It is that type of fitness that former Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew believes the Swede needs to be able to start for last season’s league champions.
During a phone-in with talkSPORT, Pardew explained that there is a difficult balance to strike between the Dutchman and conditioning coaches, but he knows what Slot needs to do.
He said: “The problem you have really is with the conditioning coaches who will be sort of saying he needs work, and your football manager’s head, which is saying he needs game time.
I expect him to play to sort of play 30 minutes as his first, maybe in midweek in that big game they have got.”
His expectation for the forward is that fans will be able to see him at his fullest capabilities in two weeks following his inaugural cameo in Europe.
Pardew explained: “Day to day in training, I would get him in and amongst a lot of players around him, maybe playing him in a reserve game against the youth team in the training ground in a controlled environment.
So he is getting the rough and tumble of the game instead of conditional running.
“I would suspect two weeks… I wouldn’t think it will take any longer than that.”
If the Englishman’s prediction is correct, it is likely the Swedish international’s first appearance as a Red could be against Pardew’s former team, Crystal Palace.
It will be a very interesting game, especially if the new signing starts, as he will be taking on Marc Guehi, who was almost in a Liverpool shirt on the same day as Isak.
While a deal fell through for him on deadline day, there is still a chance he will be joining the squad within the next few years if all goes to plan.