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To suggest this wasn't what Alexander Isak anticipated when he finalised his £125m switch to Liverpool would be an understatement of epic proportions. In a campaign frequently marred by adversity at Anfield, few have experienced tougher circumstances than the most expensive footballer in British history.

Having pushed for a transfer to a degree seldom witnessed in contemporary football to secure his desired move from Newcastle United to the Premier League champions, there was recognition within his new club that Isak would require time to rediscover the standards expected of a striker who was bettered only by Mohamed Salah in the preceding campaign, having been absent from his former club throughout the summer. The Sweden international had established his credentials as amongst the finest forwards in English football during his spell on Tyneside, scoring 54 goals across three seasons, with 44 arriving in the final two campaigns.

A bespoke training programme was devised in an attempt to bring him as near to peak condition as achievable having missed pre-season before his arrival on Merseyside, but an instant international break complicated matters for the Reds.

The club maintained regular communication with Sweden physio Ben Rosen, but a groin problem the subsequent month further hampered Isak's recovery before what has potentially become a pivotal moment of his and Liverpool's campaign; the leg fracture sustained whilst finding the net in December's victory at Tottenham.

Isak has been absent since and is not anticipated to return for the Reds until early next month and, with speculation surrounding whether he might be selected by his nation this month, Arne Slot, speaking on Friday, acknowledged expectations ought to be managed regarding the striker's immediate return to the standard that justified his £125m valuation.

"If you ask me now I would say I don't expect [Isak to go on duty with Sweden]," the head coach said.

"But we are still one and a half weeks off, there is always co-operation between club and country but I don't expect him to play for us before that.

"Again, I have to mess up the party again. Let's say [he comes back] at the beginning of April, he has been out for three and a half months and not trained with the team for three and a half months. The last time he did that, it took him a while to get up to speed.

"I am really, really looking forward to having him back but don't get the expectations again so high that the minute he is on the pitch, he is at the level of what we spent that money on."

If the absence of such a talented striker wasn't sufficient for a beleaguered boss like Slot to contend with, it has resulted in an excessive dependence on Hugo Ekitike, the sole recognised, senior centre-forward in the squad.

Liverpool have been focusing on the France international's conditioning and his capacity to reliably maintain his peak performance throughout 90 minutes in a league as rigorous and physically gruelling as the Premier League, but the shortage of a credible alternative has undeniably damaged results.

Slot says: "I don't think it's been helpful for the team that many times we have felt we are there, another player got injured, another player got injured. We constantly felt we had to do it with 12-13 players.

"It is always a boost for a team to have everyone available. Look at the recent PSG game (against Chelsea), when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia came in 30 or so minutes from the end and scored twice.

"I think Pep Guardiola said as well, how important it is to have your players available because this is such a hard league, we don't have a winter break and there are so many games.

"I don't think there are many clubs in the history of this league who have had a lot of injuries and performed as expected. That is harder in this league than any other league in the world, as you have so many games at a high level. All the examples are there, Manchester City last season."

The end of the tunnel may be in sight for Isak, but it's likely that the Reds will only genuinely possess a £125m forward once again when the next season commences.

Liverpool had to bide their time for Isak. In numerous respects, that wait continues.