Sophia
Liverpool fans have finally caught their first glimpse of record signing Alexander Isak in action for the club, as the Swedish striker joined full training on Tuesday. This highly anticipated moment was further sweetened by the return of Jeremie Frimpong, offering a significant boost to Arne Slot’s squad ahead of their upcoming fixtures.
Record Signing Hits the Pitch
The £125 million ($169 million) recruit, whose signing concluded a tumultuous summer transfer saga on Deadline Day, quickly integrated into the squad after his international duties. Isak, who had spent his summer in self-imposed exile, was afforded an 18-minute cameo for Sweden in their 2-0 defeat to Kosovo on Monday night, with national team boss Jon Dahl Tomasson admitting he wasn’t fully match-ready.
Just 48 hours later, the towering striker was out on the Kirkby pitches, training with his new teammates. This swift transition suggests a keenness from both the player and the club to get him up to speed as quickly as possible.
Frimpong’s Timely Return
Perhaps even more encouraging for Liverpool supporters was the sight of Jeremie Frimpong, the £29.5 million summer arrival from Bayer Leverkusen. The jet-heeled fullback was seen “scampering around with his usual zesty energy” after a period on the sidelines due to injury.
Frimpong missed Liverpool’s final two games of August after sustaining a hamstring injury during his Premier League debut. His absence, coupled with Conor Bradley’s muscular issue, forced Arne Slot to deploy central midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai in an unfamiliar defensive role.
This tactical reshuffle, while effective, highlighted the squad’s depth challenges at full-back. Szoboszlai admirably embraced his defensive duties, even contributing to Liverpool’s attacking prowess, notably with his spectacular free-kick that secured victory against Arsenal a fortnight ago.
Bradley Also Nearing Full Fitness
Further good news comes in the form of Conor Bradley, who returned to the bench for the Arsenal clash and was deemed fit enough for international duty with Northern Ireland. He started and played the full 90 minutes in their 3-1 defeat to Germany, a game that saw another Liverpool player, Florian Wirtz, clinch victory with a free-kick.
Looking Ahead to Burnley
With Alexander Isak and Jeremie Frimpong back in contention, and Conor Bradley gaining valuable match fitness, Liverpool’s squad depth is significantly bolstered. The trio will have the remainder of the week to combine with their new and returning teammates before the Reds travel to Burnley on Sunday. This influx of talent provides Arne Slot with more options and strengthens Liverpool’s pursuit of a successful season.
