Man City game came too soon for Alexander Isak – Slot

Arne Slot has acknowledged that Liverpool’s FA Cup quarterfinal defeat to Manchester City arrived prematurely for Alexander Isak, with the forward left out of the matchday squad despite recent progress in his recovery.

Speaking ahead of kickoff at the Etihad Stadium, Slot had initially hinted at the possibility of Isak being named among the substitutes, raising optimism about a quicker-than-expected return.

However, the Liverpool manager ultimately confirmed that the Sweden international would not feature, following careful deliberation with the club’s medical and performance staff.

“I was hoping the same thing, that Isak would join the bench today, but you always make these decisions in collaboration with the medical staff, the player staff and the player himself,” Slot said.

Liverpool have exercised caution with the striker’s rehabilitation, mindful of the severity of the leg fracture he sustained before Christmas.

Although Isak only resumed full training on Thursday, the coaching staff opted against accelerating his return in a high-intensity fixture against one of England’s most demanding opponents.

Slot emphasized that the decision was taken with the player’s long-term fitness in mind, rather than short-term gains in a crucial knockout tie.

The Dutchman highlighted concerns over the physical demands of a match that could extend beyond 90 minutes, noting that limited training exposure would not sufficiently prepare Isak for such a scenario.

“We came to the conclusion that it was better for him to have a couple more training sessions than just one or two, and then immediately jump into a match like this one where there may be extended playing time,” he explained.

Despite the setback, there is cautious optimism within the Liverpool camp regarding Isak’s availability for their upcoming UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first leg against Paris Saint-Germain.

Slot remains hopeful the striker will be in contention for selection by Wednesday, provided there are no complications in the final stages of his recovery.

“The situation now is that I hope he is available on Wednesday, but today was too early for him,” he added.