Liverpool handed Ryan Gravenberch injury boost for Arsenal title … The Irish Independent

Liverpool fans had been dreaming of the moment when Alexander Isak would walk out in red, leading the line at Anfield, scoring goals in front of the Kop and announcing himself as the next great striker in the club’s history. The Swedish international, who arrived on transfer deadline day from Newcastle United in a jaw-dropping £125 million deal, became the most expensive player in British football history. It was a transfer saga that stretched across the entire summer, full of twists, tension, and late drama, before finally ending with Isak forcing through his move to the Premier League champions.

But now, just days before Liverpool return to action against Burnley after the international break, Arne Slot has poured some cold water on the excitement. Speaking ahead of the clash, the Liverpool boss delivered both good news and bad. The good news was that Isak has officially reported for duty, trained with his new teammates, and even got minutes under his belt for Sweden during the break. The bad news, however, is that supporters will have to wait a little longer to see him fully unleashed in a Liverpool shirt.

Slot explained that Isak won’t be ready to start immediately. After missing most of Newcastle’s pre-season, not featuring in their opening three Premier League games, and training individually while pushing for his move, the forward is behind on his match sharpness. The 25-year-old may have played 18 minutes in Sweden’s 2-0 loss against Kosovo earlier in the week, but Slot stressed that rushing him now could cause more harm than good.

“A lot of things happened on the last day, which is not always the situation,” Slot admitted with a smile, reflecting on the hectic deadline day drama. “The thing that pleased me most was getting Alex over the line. Richard, the ownership, worked so hard to get the deal done. It’s very good for the club, our fans and me.”

Slot also reserved praise for Sweden’s national team manager, who carefully managed Isak’s fitness during the international break. “The Swedish manager deserves a big compliment,” Slot continued. “He gets one of, maybe the best striker in the world, and needs to play two very important games for his country but understands the player would have been injured for multiple weeks. That’s not always easy for a manager. He takes the interest of the player, and we will treat Alex the same.”

The Liverpool boss made it clear that fans should not expect their new record signing to play 90 minutes every game, at least not in the coming weeks. Instead, Isak will be eased into the team gradually. “Don’t expect him to play 90 minutes every game. That is definitely not going to happen in the coming weeks,” Slot warned. “He missed a proper pre-season, 3-4 months of team sessions, and we have to build him up gradually. With the upcoming games, it’s going to be a challenge but we have not signed him for the upcoming weeks but for six years.”

That last line was crucial. Liverpool have not broken their transfer record just for immediate fireworks; they see Isak as a long-term investment, a striker who will lead the line for years to come. The fans, though desperate to see him start, will have to remain patient. Slot reminded them: “This is what we have to keep in mind and the fans keep in mind if I take him off or bring him in for a small amount of minutes.”

While all eyes are on Isak, Liverpool were also hit with another injury blow. Curtis Jones, who played in the 1-0 victory over Arsenal before the break, has been ruled out of the Burnley game. Jones had not been called up by England for international duty, but during the Arsenal match, he picked up a problem that has now sidelined him. “I don’t know if you knew but Curtis Jones got injured in the last game. He will not be available for the game against Burnley,” Slot confirmed.

Jones’ absence will frustrate fans who have seen the academy graduate grow in influence over the past couple of seasons, becoming a reliable option in midfield. His energy, pressing, and technical quality would have been valuable against a tough Burnley side at Turf Moor.

There is, however, a glimmer of positive news in defence. Jeremie Frimpong, Liverpool’s summer signing, has been missing for the past two games with a hamstring issue. Slot confirmed that the flying full-back has returned to training and could be in contention to return against Burnley. With his pace and attacking threat from right-back, his availability will be a welcome boost.

Slot seemed relieved that aside from Jones, the rest of the squad came back healthy from the international break. “Most of them \[who were] not on the internationals trained this week with the under-21s,” he explained. “But I think the rest of them came back without a problem. That is not always the situation at the beginning of the season, so we are happy they are fit.” He even praised other international managers for being careful with his players, highlighting how Ryan Gravenberch was only started in one of the Netherlands’ games rather than both.

For Liverpool, the trip to Burnley marks the beginning of a crucial stretch of games. The champions want to maintain momentum after their strong start, and while fans may have to wait to see Isak fully firing, his gradual integration could be the smartest path. With six years on his contract, the Swedish striker is expected to be a key part of Slot’s project at Anfield, one that aims not only to dominate domestically but also to challenge consistently in Europe.

Still, the sight of Isak on the bench, waiting for his chance, will be enough to excite the away supporters at Turf Moor. His time will come, and when it does, Liverpool fans will be ready to roar him on.

For now, patience is the message from Slot: Liverpool’s new record man will shine, but not all at once.