Mansion Sports – Liverpool manager Arne Slot came to the defense of Alexander Isak following criticism of the £125 million striker’s display in the Reds’ 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. 

Isak, making his first Premier League start for Liverpool, is still believed to be regaining full match fitness after a disrupted preseason.

Isak’s First Premier League Start for Liverpool

Isak played 84 minutes in the match, marking his first league start since May. The Swedish forward came close to scoring after dribbling past two defenders, though he was unable to finish under pressure. 

In the closing stages, Slot replaced him with youngster Rio Ngumoha, with Hugo Ekitike unavailable due to suspension following his red card in the Carabao Cup against Southampton.

Slot Satisfied with Isak’s Performance

Speaking in his post-match press conference, Slot praised the forward’s effort. He explained that the decision to keep Isak on the pitch for so long was influenced by the relatively low tempo of the game.

“When facing a low block with 10 players defending deep, the intensity is not especially high. In that kind of situation, Isak was able to stay on the pitch longer,” Slot noted.

The Dutch coach added that Isak nearly found the net, only to be slightly pulled back as he prepared to shoot. 

“He stayed honest by remaining on his feet, even though the small tug threw him off balance. He did not score, but I thought his performance was solid,” Slot remarked.

The Background of Isak’s Transfer

Isak’s move to Anfield was one of the headline stories of the summer transfer window. The transfer sparked debate, particularly as he opted out of Newcastle United’s preseason tour and instead trained independently with Real Sociedad. His signing was only confirmed on deadline day.

As a result, the striker has been working hard to catch up with fitness, even performing additional sprint drills during the halftime interval of a recent match against Southampton.

Despite this, he has already opened his account for Liverpool with a composed finish in the first half of that same game.

Slot’s Tactical Decisions in Midfield

Beyond defending Isak, Slot also explained his midfield selection. He started Florian Wirtz ahead of Cody Gakpo, aiming to strengthen control in the center of the pitch during the first half.

However, after Liverpool fell behind, Slot made the adjustment to bring on Gakpo in order to stretch Crystal Palace’s defensive shape and add width in attack.

“The way we played in the first half was not what I wanted, so we took the risk of introducing more attacking players,” Slot explained.

Competition in Liverpool’s Attack

The defeat at Palace halted Liverpool’s positive momentum and underlined the importance of careful squad rotation. 

Hugo Ekitike will return for upcoming fixtures against Galatasaray and Chelsea, giving Slot further options.

The manager is expected to alternate between Isak and Ekitike in the starting lineup, or potentially use Isak as an impact substitute until he is fully fit. 

Regardless, Liverpool now boast two top-class strikers, and Slot is confident both will play crucial roles in the club’s pursuit of silverware across all competitions this season.