Arne Slot’s Patience Tested as Alexander Isak Struggles to Find Fitness at Liverpool
Liverpool’s title defence is already teetering, and the spotlight has begun to shift towards Arne Slot’s handling of a squad that appears both stretched and unsettled. Following a disappointing defeat to Manchester City, the Reds’ attack lacked its usual cohesion — and one conspicuous absentee left many questioning the club’s most expensive summer signing.
Isak’s Big-Money Move Yet to Pay Off
When Liverpool sanctioned a £125 million deal for Alexander Isak in July, expectations were monumental. The Swedish striker, fresh from an electric campaign at Newcastle United, arrived on a £300,000-a-week contract and was billed as the final piece of Slot’s attacking jigsaw. Instead, he has been reduced to a bystander in a season that is rapidly losing momentum.
So far, Isak has managed just one goal in eight appearances, totalling 429 minutes across all competitions. That averages barely 53 minutes per game — a statistic that reflects both his fitness concerns and an inability to integrate smoothly into Slot’s pressing system. His last outing came on 22 October against Eintracht Frankfurt, where he picked up an injury that has sidelined him ever since.
Frustration Growing Inside the Club
Sources close to Liverpool’s camp suggest Slot is privately frustrated. The Dutchman’s tactical plans hinge on fluid movement and relentless work without the ball — traits that Isak, for now, has been unable to demonstrate. At the Etihad, with his side chasing a goal, the Swede’s absence from the bench was glaring.
Slot instead turned to Cody Gakpo and Federico Chiesa to inject attacking impetus, but neither could unlock City’s defensive wall marshalled by Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol. The lack of a natural finisher highlighted Liverpool’s current vulnerability, particularly given that the club’s other attacking options are still adapting to the manager’s system.
Fitness Concerns Cloud the Picture
There’s little doubt about Isak’s quality — his technical finesse, ability to drift between lines, and clinical edge make him a top-tier striker. But his recurring fitness issues have severely limited his impact since moving to Anfield. Liverpool’s medical staff remain cautious, unwilling to rush him back amid fears of aggravating the problem.
With November underway and Isak still short of full match fitness, questions are mounting about whether the summer’s marquee signing can fulfil expectations. For a player who was meant to replace lost firepower and spearhead the attack, his absence has left a void that no one else has yet filled convincingly.
Slot’s Challenge Moving Forward
For Slot, who lifted the Premier League trophy just months ago, the contrast between last season’s dominance and this term’s inconsistency is stark. Five defeats from the opening 11 league fixtures underline a campaign marked by missed chances and disrupted rhythm.
Liverpool’s next fixtures could prove decisive in shaping their season’s trajectory. Whether Isak can return swiftly — and with the form that justified his transfer fee — may determine not only the team’s fortunes but also the early verdict on Slot’s tenure at Anfield.
For now, the manager can only wait — and hope that his record signing soon becomes a solution, not a symbol of frustration.
