Virgil van Dijk addresses Alexander Isak’s £125m move

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Alexander Isak completed a British-record £125million move to Anfield from Newcastle United on deadline day earlier this month.

The Sweden international was not risked in Liverpool’s 1-0 Premier League win at Burnley on Sunday, with his brief cameo for his national team last Monday being his only action since May.

Isak, however, trained with his new Liverpool teammates last week.

Asked about the 25-year-old’s fitness progress, Arne Slot told Sky Sports ahead of kick-off at Turf Moor: “As everybody knew, he didn’t have any team training at Newcastle, then went to the national team [and] only played there for 15 to 20 minutes.

“We think, with a week where we play three games in seven days, this is the best lead-up for him to be available against Atletico Madrid.

“That’s always difficult to say [how quickly he will be] up to full speed.

What I can say is that normally in a pre-season, after one or two weeks you play your first 45 to 60 minutes, you build that up gradually.”

Isak was frozen out of the Newcastle United first-team squad during the summer and missed out on a full pre-season programme, leaving him playing catch-up with his fitness.

However, he could make his Reds debut in the Champions League opener at home to Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.

Virgil van Dijk has expressed his delight that the issues surrounding Isak’s transfer are now firmly in the past.

“I know it was a very difficult time,” said Van Dijk.

“When negotiations always drag on, it’s never easy.

So many things are going on behind the scenes.

“Not only me, but the whole team and everyone connected to the club was very pleased that the deal got done.

“Now he’s here, he’s a part of the family and it is time for him to be as fit as he can as quickly as possible, and be important for us with goals, with assists, with link-up play, and with what Hugo (Ekitike) has already been showing and doing, pushing each other and bringing us to the next level.”

On what he told Isak after the Carabao Cup final defeat to Newcastle, the Liverpool captain added: “I’m not telling you!”

“Maybe in two years’ time or three years’ time, I will tell you.

I can’t remember!”

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