Arne Slot and Richard Hughes futures, Alexander Isak return - your Liverpool questions answered
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He hasn't agreed to leave as things stand.Do you think Alexander Isak will be starting games when he's back or will he be mainly used as a sub? ElliottArne Slot spoke extensively about Alexander Isak in the embargoed section of his pre-match press conference before the game with Brighton last week.Slot said he was just as excited as the fans to see the £125m striker back available but did urge caution regarding the level at which he will return after such a terrible injury at Spurs.It's been a virtual write-off of a season for Isak given he arrived at Anfield in September and had three international breaks in as many months disrupting time on the training pitches at the AXA Training Centre.Because Isak's move from Newcastle United concluded on bitter terms, he lacked a proper pre-season schedule, which has immensely affected his season.A groin injury in October didn't help either and then the leg break at Tottenham Hotspur pretty much means supporters will have to wait until next season to see the best of him.As a result, I don't see Isak being primed to start many games at the business end of the season, certainly not in April at least.
Given he hasn't kicked a ball since December 20, though, that, sadly, might take some time.Slot has spoken about the prospect of arranging behind-closed-doors friendlies and playing Isak in the under-21s to get some match fitness into him but he has yet to train with his colleagues and the prospect of him playing in those fixtures to benefit him might even be a few weeks away.A full and uninterrupted pre-season schedule for the Reds will mean Isak will be much more like his old self next season. Paul SmithKieran Morrison hasn't played a single minute in the Premier League and struggled on his senior debut when he was overpowered by the Crystal Palace seniors who knocked Liverpool out of the Carabao Cup in October.Morrison has had a fine season at academy level with 16 goals but he is not a solution to the problems, particularly given he plays in the same position as one of the greatest players of all time at Anfield in Mohamed Salah.
Slot has clearly felt he has had better, more suitable options for the problem position this season, including Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones. He has shown he can excite the fans and has a brilliant future ahead of him but Slot and his staff have been careful not to overload the 17-year-old with too many minutes or unfair expectations.It would be good to see him get a few more starts between now and the end of the season though.Gakpo is not having a good season.