Alexander Isak has opened up about his current fitness levels since joining Liverpool as the club’s record signing at the close of the summer transfer window.
The Swedish striker pushed for a move away from Newcastle by skipping the Magpies’ pre-season, eventually securing his transfer on deadline day. However, he arrived in Merseyside lacking match sharpness. The 26-year-old has scored just once in his first eight appearances for the Reds and faced another setback when he had to leave the field with a groin injury during the 5-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt last month—his most recent club outing.
Isak played the final 27 minutes as a substitute in Sweden’s 4-1 loss to Switzerland on Saturday and admitted he hasn’t been at full fitness in recent weeks. Speaking after the game (via Sportbladet), he said:
“It hasn’t been optimal, but when I’m on the pitch, I don’t make excuses. I always want to play my game and perform. It’s tough being away and not being able to contribute, but now I’m back and feeling positive. There’s nothing easy in football, but experience teaches you how to handle injuries and get back on track properly.”
He added that his body felt “good” after his substitute appearance and hopes to feature fully against Slovenia on Tuesday, though national team coach Graham Potter had given somewhat mixed signals ahead of the Switzerland match.
Isak will want to quickly justify the £125 million Liverpool invested in him, but fitness struggles have limited his impact so far, and his sharpness hasn’t yet matched the levels he showed at Newcastle last season.
Reds supporters may be conflicted about his involvement in Sweden’s game against Slovenia. While the match holds little at stake for either country, Isak needs the minutes after a period of limited play. Liverpool coach Arne Slot faces a tactical puzzle with Hugo Ekitike’s impressive form. Should he bench the 23-year-old to give Isak game time, adjust his formation to accommodate both forwards, or deploy a two-striker system?
With a demanding fixture schedule—Liverpool still have nine games left in 2025—both players should get sufficient minutes if they avoid further injuries. For the former Newcastle striker, getting back on the pitch is crucial to finally kick-start a season that has so far been a frustrating one
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