Arne Slot has delivered a Premier League title in his debut season at Liverpool, yet even champions face early season dilemmas. The most pressing right now centres on Alexander Isak, the £125 million signing whose slow start has opened a tactical and physical conundrum for the manager. Slot has acknowledged that some short term compromise may be required to unlock the long term value of a striker who once terrorised Premier League defences at Newcastle United.

Isak’s Challenging Start at Anfield

Isak’s arrival on transfer deadline day brought expectation, intrigue and the weight of a British transfer record. So far, the numbers lag behind the anticipation. One goal in eight appearances reflects a player still searching for rhythm after a disrupted summer in which he was frozen out by Newcastle while pushing for his move to Anfield.

Slot has been frank about the predicament. “Alex, it will still take a bit of time but he will end up being the player he was at Newcastle if we get him fit, or how he was at Sociedad or all the other clubs he was at, he just needs to become fit,” he said. His assessment captures a wider truth. Liverpool did not just sign a goalscorer, they signed a player whose peak output depends heavily on physical sharpness, high speed movement and confidence in transitions.

Fitness Roadblocks and Tactical Trade Offs

The manager outlined the scale of the rebuild. “He did one time a sprint above 30km/h in four months. He didn’t do a lot of high intensity runs,” Slot explained. The consequences are clear. Without a pre season and with training largely on his own, the forward arrived lacking the physical base needed for Liverpool’s expansive style.

This is not the first time Slot has faced such a scenario. “The problem is, I play a player, and I have done this with others, who is not 100% of their usual match fitness,” he said. Without the safety net of friendlies, Liverpool must rediscover Isak’s sharpness in competitive matches. That means minutes, even when others may currently look fitter. Hugo Ekitike has settled quickly, yet the ceiling Isak offers remains higher if Liverpool can accelerate his conditioning.

International duty offered little relief. Sweden used him for only 28 minutes as Graham Potter sought to avoid a suspension risk ahead of March’s World Cup qualifiers. Liverpool, therefore, continue to pursue their own plan. “This morning, I had a conversation with the performance staff: ‘What is the best way for him, not for Liverpool, to get him as fast as we can to that 100%?’” Slot revealed.

Selection Decisions Beyond Isak

Liverpool also face complications in defence. Conor Bradley has joined Jeremie Frimpong on the injury list, leaving Slot to weigh up options that include Joe Gomez, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Curtis Jones. There is positive news in goal with Alisson Becker back after seven weeks out, although £116 million midfielder Florian Wirtz remains sidelined.

The focus, however, stays firmly on Isak. A fully fit version transforms Liverpool’s attack. A compromised version demands patience. Slot remains convinced time will reward the investment. If that happens, Liverpool’s title defence will be stronger for it.