Latest Liverpool news as Alexander Isak hands the Reds a welcome boost ahead of the return of Premier League football this weekend

Latest Liverpool news as Alexander Isak hands the Reds a welcome boost ahead of the return of Premier League football this weekend

New Liverpool signing Alexander Isak has finally made his first appearance of the season - and Reds fans will have had their hearts in their mouths just seconds after he came off the bench for Sweden on Monday.

Isak of course secured a deadline day move to Anfield after a long summer transfer saga with with Newcastle, with Liverpool setting a new Premier League transfer record at $169 million for his signature.

No sooner had the 25-year-old arrived on Merseyside though, than he was heading off on international duty as Sweden got its World Cup qualifying campaign underway during the international break.

Isak had not played a single minute of competitive action before linking up with his country, having been forced to train alone at Newcastle as he tried to force through his move to Liverpool.

He was left on the bench for Sweden’s 2-2 draw with Slovenia on Friday, but he was finally handed his first appearance of the season on Monday against Kosovo.

With just under 20 minutes remaining, Isak was brought off the bench to replace Anthony Elanga, and any Liverpool fans watching would have been looking on nervously as just a few seconds later, the striker seemed to fall awkwardly after challenging for a header.

Liverpool fans will be hoping to see Alexander Isak make his debut for the club this weekend (Image: Getty Images)

After staying on the ground for a while, Isak thankfully got back to his feet and showed no ill effects from the landing.

It continued to be an all-action cameo, with Isak picking up a yellow card as tempers flared during the final 10 minutes, while he saw a late effort saved by Arijanet Muric as Sweden failed to find a way back into the game.

Arne Slot and Liverpool though will be relieved to have seen Isak come through his first minutes of action unscathed ahead of what will be his first training sessions with his new teammates later this week.

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more Liverpool FC 2025/26 kits

The Reds take on Burnley on Sunday in what could prove to be Isak’s debut for the club, with Liverpool looking to make it four wins out of four at the start of its title defense.

"I've had a tricky summer where I haven’t played any games," Isak said when his transfer was confirmed on deadline day.

"I've had restricted training, so I think that’s one to judge and to analyze where I am at and how much I am ready to give. But I certainly want to play as soon as possible."

Adblock test (Why?)

Latest Liverpool news as Virgil van Dijk's former club name a stand after the defender

Latest Liverpool news as Virgil van Dijk's former club name a stand after the defender

Liverpool's upcoming Premier League clash with Burnley will be officiated by Michael Oliver, as confirmed recently. This marks the referee's first time overseeing a Reds game since last season's Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.

Following the international break, Liverpool returns to action as the reigning Premier League champions and current leaders of this season, boasting a 100 per cent winning record. Its next challenge comes in the form of newly-promoted Burnley, who have yet to taste defeat at Turf Moor this season.

On Monday, the Premier League announced the officials appointed for the fourth game week's 10 fixtures, reuniting the Reds with a referee who previously caused them some frustration.

Oliver is set to take charge of Sunday's encounter with Burnley. Throughout his career, he has refereed 64 Liverpool matches, the most recent being the final Merseyside derby against Everton at Goodison Park in February.

That evening saw Arne Slot's team fight back from an early deficit to lead 2-1 going into stoppage time. Oliver added seven minutes of extra time but failed to blow the whistle before James Tarkowski equalised for the Blues with a volley in the 98th minute.

In the heat of a title race and the magnitude of the match, emotions spilled over when Slot and his right-hand man, Sipke Hulshoff, were both given their marching orders post-match for squaring up to the referee. Liverpool's Curtis Jones and Everton's Abdoulaye Doucoure also saw red after a tussle that riled up the away fans.

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot was sent off by referee Michael Oliver the last time they met (Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Following the fracas, Liverpool copped a £50,000 ($67,735) fine, while Everton were hit with a £65,000 ($88,055) penalty after both clubs owned up to the Football Association's charges of 'failing to ensure their players and/or technical area occupants did not behave in an improper and/or provocative way following the final whistle'.

Slot himself was slapped with a hefty £70,000 ($94,829) fine, Hulshoff with £7,000 ($9,483), and both were handed two-match touchline bans for 'acting in an improper manner and/or used insulting and/or abusive words and/or behaviour towards both the match referee and an assistant referee'.

"The best thing I could have done was just walk inside, but unfortunately I didn't," Slot conceded later on.

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more Liverpool FC 2025/26 kits

When quizzed on whether he'd take it as a lesson to keep his cool in future, the Reds' gaffer said: "I hope, but I can't promise because I'm a human being. The way I am now, I would react the way I reacted after the game."

The officials teaming up with Oliver for the upcoming Burnley vs Liverpool clash this Sunday include Stuart Burt and James Mainwaring on the lines, with Chris Kavanagh taking up the role of fourth official.

Paul Tierney will be on video assistant referee (VAR) duty - his first time overseeing on-field decisions in a Liverpool match since the Merseyside derby at Anfield in April. Following that game, PGMOL confirmed he had missed a challenge by Tarkowski on Alexis Mac Allister that should have resulted in a sending off.

Eddie Smart will be assisting Tierney as VAR for Sunday's match.

* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can read the original story in the Liverpool ECHO by clicking here.

Adblock test (Why?)

News ahead of Burnley vs Liverpool as the Premier League confirmed match officials for the coming weekend

News ahead of Burnley vs Liverpool as the Premier League confirmed match officials for the coming weekend

Alexander Isak will have to wait a little while longer to make his first appearance of the season after the new Liverpool striker was named on the bench for Sweden against Kosovo.

Isak hasn’t played a single minute of competitive action since the start of the 2025/26 campaign, having been left out by Newcastle as he tried to get his move to Anfield over the line.

The 25-year-old was forced to train alone, with reports at the time suggesting he was refusing to play for the Magpies, before he eventually secured his $169 million switch to Merseyside on deadline day, and immediately headed out on international duty with Sweden.

Isak was named in a matchday squad for the first time this season for his country's World Cup qualifier against Slovenia on Friday, although he would remain an unused substitute, despite his side conceding a late equalizer in a 2-2 draw.

Sweden boss Jon Dahl Tomasson hinted that Isak could feature in the second game of the international break against Kosovo though, and recent posts by the country's media team would seem to suggest he will feature at some point.

"The last game, I kept him on the bench for 90 minutes long," Tomasson said. "A bit for the result. If we were 1-1, then he would definitely have played minutes, but we were leading.

Alexander Isak joined Liverpool from Newcastle United on transfer deadline day (Image: Getty Images)

"We shouldn't forget that Alex had only had three training [sessions] but now has had five training [sessions].

"He hasn't had a long pre-season so we are thinking about the short term and also the long term. But he can definitely be a game-changer."

If Isak is to make his first appearance of the season today though, it will be as a substitute, with the 25-year-old having once again been named on the bench by Tomasson.

Instead, Viktor Gyokeres is preferred up front, with Newcastle's Anthony Elanga will provide support to the Arsenal frontman.

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more Liverpool FC 2025/26 kits

Liverpool may not be too disappointed with Isak missing out on a first start of the season, with a hectic schedule awaiting the Reds once they return to action this weekend.

A trip to Burnley awaits on Sunday before Atletico Madrid visits Anfield on Wednesday as the opening stage of Champions League gets underway, with Everton visiting just a few days later for the Merseyside derby.

"I've had a tricky summer where I haven’t played any games," Isak said when his transfer was confirmed on deadline day.

"I've had restricted training, so I think that’s one to judge and to analyze where I am at and how much I am ready to give. But I certainly want to play as soon as possible."

Adblock test (Why?)

Latest Liverpool transfer news and gossip as the January window presents the Reds with another opportunity to strengthen their squad

Latest Liverpool transfer news and gossip as the January window presents the Reds with another opportunity to strengthen their squad

Florian Wirtz has admitted that it “might take a few more games” for him to adapt and score for Liverpool, after netting a brilliant free-kick for Germany.

Florian Wirtz admits Premier League is “different kind of football”

While we have seen glimpses of Wirtz’s fantastic awareness and remarkable technical ability, he hasn’t yet set the Premier League alight with his talent.

He did, though, figure prominently for Germany on Sunday night, as he scored a long-range free-kick in a 3-1 win over Conor Bradley‘s Northern Ireland.

Following the game, when asked by broadcaster RTL (h/t GGFN) about when he hopes to score his first goal for Liverpool, Wirtz replied: “It might take a few more games.

“It’s a different league, a different kind of football.

“When will I score for the first time? I have no idea, hopefully in the next game. It will come eventually.”

Wirtz has every reason to remain confident in himself. He is just 22 years old and has plenty of time to develop.

While Liverpool will want their £116 million signing to progress significantly in the coming months, it must be acknowledged that he is not yet the finished article.

Today’s Liverpool FC News

• Virgil van Dijk has had the main stand named after him at Sportpark Prinsenhoeve, where Willem II’s youth team play – it was great that the captain could be present for the occasion, too

• Liverpool have confirmed the appointment of new head of loan management Gary Probert – he joins from Ipswich where he was director of football operations for nearly four years

• Hugo Ekitike has said Alexander Isak will provide “tough competition,” but he expected “to be competing with the best players” when signing for Liverpool anyway – a good attitude, Hugo!

More from This Is Anfield

Jason McAteer lived the dream playing for Liverpool, but he was forced to turn down idol Kenny Dalglish in order to do so! Joel Richards interviewed the former Reds right-wing back:

“I was having talks with Blackburn. I was literally in the room with Kenny when Liverpool rang my agent and he said they’d agreed the fee, I’m free to go and talk to Liverpool if I don’t sign for Blackburn,” said McAteer.

“I mean, Kenny was my hero, but Liverpool was my team that I supported. So, I had an emotional attachment to both, but I wanted to be Kenny at Liverpool. I didn’t want to play for Kenny at Blackburn.”

READ: ‘I turned down Dalglish to sign for Liverpool – I didn’t care about wages, it was my club!’

Elsewhere in the football world today

• Man City and the Premier League have reached a settlement in their dispute over the rules governing associated party transactions (APTs) – read more here

• Athletic Bilbao defender Yeray Alvarez has been banned until April 2, after taking a banned substance found in a medicine used to prevent hair loss following his cancer treatment (BBC Sport)

• Former Denmark manager Kasper Hjulmand has been appointed as Bayer Leverkusen‘s new manager, replacing Erik ten Hag who lasted just three games in the job

Monday night internationals

Liverpool could have as many as four internationals involved on Monday night, Andy Robertson, Kostas Tsimikas, Giovanni Leoni and Alexander Isak‘s nations all play.

Scotland’s World Cup qualifying away match, against Belarus, is to be broadcast on BBC Scotland and BBC Three, while Leoni’s match with Italy will be shown on Amazon Prime.

The Italians are in Hungary to face Israel, while Tsimikas’ Greece are in action at home to Denmark – this match is also on Amazon Prime.

Isak could feature from the bench for Sweden against Kosovo, but the game isn’t being broadcast on UK television.

All these matches kick off at 7.45pm (BST).

Adblock test (Why?)

Liverpool playmaker Florian Wirtz scored his first competitive goal of the season and his first in Germany's World Cup qualification campaign in a victory over Northern Ireland

Liverpool playmaker Florian Wirtz scored his first competitive goal of the season and his first in Germany's World Cup qualification campaign in a victory over Northern Ireland

Liverpool have made the notable decision to synchronise training times across the academy and first team, while the academy director has relocated his office to work more closely with Arne Slot.

In recent years, the Reds have been working to strengthen the bond between the academy and the first team, starting in November 2020 when the senior squad moved training ground from Melwood to the site of the youth teams in Kirkby.

Jurgen Klopp was known for his willingness to play youngsters, and the development of this link to the youth teams is now growing with Slot as head coach.

The Athletic‘s James Pearce reports that a new development this season “has seen synchronisation of training times for the first team, under-21s and under-18s, with most sessions starting at 11:45am.”

This has allowed for flexibility in youngsters being moved, when needed, over to the first-team pitches to play with the senior squad.

This should improve the development of Liverpool’s young prospects even further, given the standard and intensity of training they will experience around Mo Salah and co.

The aforementioned move from Melwood made this far easier, and this is just another step in the right direction.

In addition, Pearce wrote: “Alex Inglethorpe (academy director) speaks regularly to Slot, who invited him to do some coaching with the first team in pre-season last summer.”

“Ties have been further strengthened since he recently relocated from his office in the academy to one in the first-team building.”

The academy’s £20 million redevelopment

• READ: Liverpool’s academy to undergo £20 million redevelopment

This news of training synchronisation came at the same time as the Athletic reporting that Liverpool are planning a £20 million redevelopment of the Kirkby academy.

Liverpool will submit a planning application this month, with the aim of completing the project by 2028, which highlights the changes that will be made.

An indoor dome will be built on the current main pitch and connect to the existing building at Kirkby, though this will temporarily displace home matches for the U21s and U19 Youth League.

The club are also seeking to enhance their medical and sports science areas within the academy set up, with FSG viewing the redevelopment as recognition for the academy’s role in the club’s recent success.

Inglethorpe said: “We’ve always been patient as an academy, knowing where we sit in the order of things, but now it’s our turn and it’s really exciting.

“We’ve never had a full-size indoor facility before that would match up with a lot of our competitors. While I’m all for toughening them up in the Kirkby wind and rain, there are a lot of days when we have to cancel training or the quality of a session is compromised.

“It’s going to make a massive difference. We’re already reaping the benefits of the changes made this summer.

“It’s important for the boys and their families to see that investment. I’ve always felt supported and there’s recognition from the club that we have contributed a lot in terms of player sales.”

Over £100m, in fact, was generated this summer from selling players who had played in the academy, and the redevelopment of the youth teams’ facilities is viewed as a long-term investment for the club.

Adblock test (Why?)

New Liverpool striker Alexander Isak broke the British transfer record when he completed his move to Anfield from Newcastle United on deadline day

New Liverpool striker Alexander Isak broke the British transfer record when he completed his move to Anfield from Newcastle United on deadline day

Man City have agreed a settlement with the Premier League over Associated Party Transaction rules

Man City have agreed a settlement with the Premier League over Associated Party Transaction rules

Is Florian Wirtz's decision to choose Liverpool over Bayern Munich counting against him in his German homeland? Paul Gorst assesses