Slot surprised by Isak fitness but unsure over striker's Merseyside derby role
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Arne Slot was left surprised by Alexander Isak's fitness after he made his Liverpool debut in their late 3-2 win against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, but the Reds boss wouldn't confirm whether the striker would start against Everton in the Merseyside derby on Saturday.
The £125m British record signing was handed his first start for Liverpool as the Premier League champions let slip a two-goal lead after efforts from Andy Robertson and Mo Salah were cancelled out by Marcos Llorente's double, before Virgil van Dijk headed home in the second minute of added time.
In a disrupted pre-season, Isak did not play a part in Newcastle's summer preparations as he sought a move to Anfield.
And the 25-year-old's only appearance of the season before Wednesday was an 18-minute cameo for Sweden against Kosovo.
Asked if Isak's display had surprised him Slot, who celebrated victory on his 47th birthday, said: "Particularly because I think in the 60 minutes he played, he seemed to be quite fit to me - so it wasn't as if, after 10 minutes, he was already very tired.
"He could just play at this level quite well so that was the most positive thing - and that he can play football, and that he's a joy to watch.
"That is not a surprise to me, but he was maybe fitter than I expected.
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"I was positively surprised by how fit he was.
Isak controls the ball during the Champions League game against Atletico Madrid at Anfield.
Slot lauds Liverpool mentality
Liverpool have made a habit of scoring late winners this season, most recently beating Burnley 1-0 in the Premier League thanks to Salah's 95th-minute penalty and scoring on or after the 83rd minute in each of their games.
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Vinny O'Connor and Adam Bate discuss Liverpool's win over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.
Van Dijk celebrates scoring Liverpool's late winner against Atletico Madrid
But if you want to differentiate, and I call them giants of the club like Gerrard, Dalglish, Hansen, Barnes, Souness and Salah, the top seven or eight players at Liverpool, he is right in the middle of that.
"He's not at the bottom of the list I can assure you