Arne Slot opens up on Alexander Isak treatment after conversation with ex-Man Utd star

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Arne Slot explained that he felt he had no choice but to bring Alexander Isak into the Liverpool team quite soon after his transfer from Newcastle, despite the Sweden striker having not played in any games during pre-season. Isak's refusal to play for Newcastle in pre-season meant he arrived at Liverpool undercooked, having not made an appearance of any sort since Newcastle's final game of last season, on May 25.

"People will say 'so why did you play him?' But if I don't, then I won't have him available. "We need to have him available because otherwise Hugo [Ekitike] has to play every game.

"I was just with Owen Hargreaves and he showed that both of them (Isak and Ekitike) played 34 games last season. "We have more than enough good players available to play the three games this week.