‘He’s not ready for 90 minutes’: Slot urges patience with Isak return

‘He’s not ready for 90 minutes’: Slot urges patience with Isak return

Arne Slot has welcomed the return of Alexander Isak but has insisted the Liverpool striker is not ready to play 90 minutes yet.

Isak made his first start since suffering fractured fibula and ankle injury in December during Liverpool’s defeat to PSG in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

The Swedish striker was substituted at half-time, as Slot takes a cautious approach with his reintroduction to the side. Isak’s return has been well timed, with fellow forward Hugo Ekitike suffering a serious Achilles injury during the PSG defeat.

However, Slot has insisted that Liverpool can not rely entirely on Isak, ahead of Sunday’s massive Merseyside Derby at Everton.

“I was saying that you cannot write the script that Alexander Isak is back from four months with injury when the other [Hugo Ekitike] is injured,” Slot said at his pre-match press conference.

“It’s nice to have Alex back, although we also know that he is not ready to play 90 minutes yet.

“Very important (Isak’s return) although there are other players who can fill in that position. Cody [Gakpo] did really well when he came in in the second half [against Paris St-Germain].

“You never know how a game is going to work out but he [Alexander Isak] is getting closer and closer. We need him but there are different options. Federico Chiesa is another of them.”