Arne Slot gave Jon Dahl Tomasson quite a few compliments. The Liverpool manager praised the Sweden coach for taking it easy with Alexander Isak.
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This past week, Liverpool’s record signing Alexander Isak finally stepped onto the training pitch at Kirkby, marking the beginning of his integration into Arne Slot’s squad.
The Swedish striker arrived after two international fixtures with his national team, where Sweden coach Jon Dahl Tomasson opted to manage his minutes very carefully. Isak remained on the bench for the full ninety minutes in the match against Slovenia and only came on for the final eighteen minutes against Kosovo. Tomasson later explained that his decision was deliberate, aiming to protect his star forward from unnecessary fatigue and potential injuries. For Slot, those words were music to his ears.
“Tomasson deserves a big compliment,” Slot said in his pre-match press conference ahead of the Premier League clash with Burnley. “He has perhaps the best striker in the world at his disposal and needs him for his country, but he understood that playing Isak too much could lead to injuries. That’s exactly how we’re going to handle Alex as well, so don’t expect him to play ninety minutes every week.”
The Liverpool manager stressed that patience will be essential in integrating Isak into his system. “He missed pre-season, so we’ll build him up slowly. The fans need to keep that in mind,” Slot continued. “We want to enjoy him for many years, and rushing him now would not be wise.” Slot underlined that his goal is to have Isak at his best over the long term, hinting at a carefully managed plan that stretches across the next six years of his Liverpool contract.
When asked about the overall condition of his squad, Slot was pleased to reveal that, apart from Curtis Jones who is sidelined with an injury, the team is in excellent shape. “We trained with a large part of the team together for the first time this week,” he noted, suggesting that Liverpool are finally approaching full cohesion after the international break. As for Jeremie Frimpong, who had been struggling with a hamstring problem, Slot did not go into detail but it was confirmed that the Dutch full-back has already resumed training with the group, raising hopes of a return to competitive action soon.
All of this built up to Liverpool’s trip to Turf Moor, where they faced Vincent Kompany’s Burnley on Sunday afternoon. The clash ended in a convincing 2–0 victory for the Reds, who controlled the game from start to finish. Mohamed Salah opened the scoring in the first half with a trademark finish, cutting inside from the right before curling the ball into the corner. Darwin Núñez then doubled Liverpool’s advantage in the second half with a powerful header, ensuring that the three points would travel back to Anfield.
The moment many fans had been waiting for also arrived: Alexander Isak made his Liverpool debut. Introduced in the second half, the Swedish forward played around thirty minutes and immediately showed flashes of his quality. His movement off the ball, intelligent positioning, and sharp touches unsettled the Burnley defence, even though he did not get on the scoresheet. For Slot, this was the perfect first step in Isak’s gradual adaptation. “Alex is going to be very important for us,” the manager said afterwards. “You could already see today what he brings. We’ll continue to build him up step by step.”
Slot also praised his team’s overall performance, describing it as “professional and controlled.” He highlighted the clean sheet, the attacking balance, and the way his side remained patient against a disciplined Burnley. The manager was keen to point out that the victory, combined with the integration of new players and the return to fitness of key squad members, was a strong signal of Liverpool’s growing momentum.
For Burnley, the defeat underlined the challenges they face in competing with the top teams, but Kompany will take encouragement from his side’s organisation and determination. For Liverpool, however, the afternoon was full of positives: three points, goals from Salah and Núñez, a clean sheet, and the debut of their record signing.
As the Premier League season unfolds, Liverpool’s supporters will be eager to see how Slot continues to manage Isak’s minutes and how the team evolves around him. With the Reds keeping pace near the top of the table, optimism is steadily growing at Anfield that Slot’s era could quickly bring success.
Updated: 10:57, 12 Sep 2025
