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Liverpool fans will have to wait to see the best of Alexander Isak, with Sweden manager Jon Dahl Tomasson laying bare the reality of his current fitness level.

The Reds ended a bitter summer transfer window saga when they completed the £125million signing of Isak on deadline day. He was the headline addition of an extremely busy summer for Liverpool, who splashed £450m on new players.

Isak scored 27 times in all competitions for Newcastle last season and finished second behind Mohamed Salah in the race for the Premier League Golden Boot. And while he ultimately got his dream transfer to Liverpool, his methods have come at a cost.

The 25-year-old went on strike at Newcastle, refusing to play for them until they granted his wish to leave. He was forced to train by himself and did not go on the Magpies’ pre-season tour, leaving him well short of fitness.

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Isak was called up for Sweden’s World Cup qualifiers in the international break, but was an unused substitute as they drew 2-2 with Slovenia on Friday night. Tomasson started Arsenal star Viktor Gyokeres up front alongside Newcastle’s £55m summer addition Anthony Elanga and explained afterwards that Isak was never an option.

“We would have loved to play him, everyone would want it,” the Sweden boss explained. “But since he only had three training sessions and no pre-season and of course no match time, the risk was too great to use him today.”

Asked if Isak could play against Kosovo on Monday, Tomasson replied: “Hopefully, hopefully, as a game changer. But we have to do the right things with him, in the long and short term.”

His words echo those from Isak himself, who was open about his lack of sharpness after joining Liverpool. “Yeah, of course, I think that’s the ambition,” he told the club website when asked if he could be available to face Burnley after the international break.

“However, I’ve had a tricky summer where I haven’t played any games and I’ve had restricted training, so I think that’s one to judge and to analyse where I am at and how much I am ready to give. But I certainly want to play as soon as possible.”

Asked what he could improve, he added: “Everything. I think I have a lot to give, I think I have a lot to improve. I’m a striker but I always want to give as much as possible to the team, mainly goals but much more than that as well. So yeah, everything.”

Liverpool have won all three of their Premier League games this season, beating Bournemouth, Newcastle and Arsenal. But their performances have left a lot to be desired and Slot will hope that the arrival of Isak can make a difference when they return to action against Burnley on Sunday, September 14 at Turf Moor.

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