Alexander Isak issues Liverpool denial as Arne Slot plots two major changes

Liverpool continue their Premier League season against Burnley on Sunday, before their Champions League campaign kicks off vs Atletico Madrid next week

For the first time in months, there is time to pause at Liverpool. After a hectic and record-breaking transfer window came to an end last week, Arne Slot has been able to take stock with many of his players on international duty.

Alexander Isak was the final – and biggest – arrival of the summer with all eyes now on his Reds debut following his £125million move.

There are question marks over how great an impact he will make immediately however, after he spent weeks on strike to force his Newcastle exit.

Slot will now be keeping his fingers crossed that all of his stars return to Merseyside fully fit as they look to make it four from four when they face Burnley on Sunday.

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Isak’s break to forget

Liverpool’s new record signing dismissed claims that Liverpool had asked Sweden to limit his minutes in the latest batch of World Cup qualifiers. Isak spent the summer training away from Newcastle team-mates and sitting out of matches in order to get his dream move to Anfield.

And while that paid dividends on deadline day, it has meant that he is lacking match fitness for both his new club and country. Sweden boss Jon Dahl Tomasson left him out of their first match against Slovenia and gave him just 18 minutes in their desperate defeat to Kosovo.

It was later suggested that an agreement between Liverpool and Sweden meant he could only play fewer than 20 minutes – a claim Isak denied.

“Not that I know of. I’m with the national team now. Clubs and national teams have contact but it’s between them in such cases.” He also commented: “It’s hard to know exactly how many minutes are right.”

But Tomasson hinted at his limitations regarding Isak, telling Viaplay: “That was the maximum number of minutes I could give him.”

New coaches wanted

Despite their 100 per cent start to the new season, Slot is continuing to change things behind the scenes and wants two new coaches. The ECHO report that a physical performance analyst and first-team physical performance coach are both being recruited for.

There have already been numerous changes to Slot’s staff after Jonny Heitinga left Anfield to become Ajax’s head coach. Giovanni van Bronckhorst arrived as his replacement, while Aaron Briggs was named as the club’s official set-piece coach.

Elliott offer revealed

Harvey Elliott was one of the players to leave Liverpool on deadline day, joining up with Aston Villa in a loan deal which will become permanent for £35m.

However, that deal only materialised after months of speculation with RB Leipzig. It was anticipated that the Bundesliga side would put in a significant offer in the final days of the window, but the Athletic report they refused to go beyond £17m.

Instead, a move to the Midlands was agreed, although Liverpool inserted a buy-back clause which could eventually see him return to the club.

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