Anfield boss Arne Slot has hit out at commentators who “favour other teams” for their observations over the club’s summer spending as he gets ready to give a debut to new signing Isak.
A transfer deadline purchase of Sweden forward the Newcastle star from Newcastle for a all-time high price of £125 million pounds took Anfield’s spending to £450 million pounds on eight new signings.
The striker is scheduled to get his first outing for Liverpool in their European group stage game against Atletico at home on Wednesday.
During his pre-match press conference, the manager emphasized that his side’s massive investment was balanced by more than £250m received in player sales, having invested just £10m the previous off-season.
“There’s so much emphasis on our new additions, notably from commentators that prefer a few other clubs in the country that can’t stop going on about £450 million,” Slot stated.
“Let me say again, £450 million pounds, £450 million pounds! But they forget about around £300 million that we have transferred out talent for. So, indeed, if we want to boost the team we need to spend that much funds.”
The manager felt his team “completed great business”, given all eight of their new players are younger than twenty-five or less, and the club “should get credit” for the approach it has adopted.
“I think it is only a compliment that pundits tell everyone we have invested so much because that shows you the individuals we acquired are viewed as top-class players,” noted the coach.
“A number of rival clubs choose to bring in 27-year-olds because they are ready, but we think we have brought in individuals who are in their early twenties [and] who are prepared.
“I think all the money we have used we earned independently by transferring out, and by securing the league after we failed to buy anyone at all.”
Isak did not feature in the Reds’ 1-0 win at Turf Moor on the weekend – the initial game since he signed for Anfield – because he is still lacking of match fitness.
The forward practiced individually at former club the Magpies, in a attempt to secure through his move to Liverpool, and must undergo further work to get up to speed after missing pre-season.
Isak's only outing this term came for Sweden in an cameo appearance from the bench in a two-nil defeat by Kosovo last week.
Slot said he is “absolutely confident” the striker will not play the full match against Atletico Madrid but indicated he will play a role against the top-flight side.
“He is part of the squad, so it's now a European match to anticipate, but if supporters hope for his involvement, that could mean that could happen in the match as well,” Slot stated.
“So the point he is fit, sharp, [he] can play 90, and then the next step is playing several matches in a week full matches.
“And that is what he has to do; scoring goals and doing outstanding things in attack is something he will 100% do. The key obstacle he has is to become so fit that he's primarily able to do what he did last season.”
