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.

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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."

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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."

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Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike has insisted that he welcomes the signing of Alexander Isak at Anfield just a few weeks after the Frenchman arrived from Eintracht Frankfurt.

Ekitike could cost up to $106 million including add-ons and he was one of a number of new additions in the summer transfer window when Arne Slot's side went big in the market. Isak came in from Newcastle United on deadline day for a fee of around $169 million after a long drawn out saga.

While both players favor the central striking berth and Liverpool also has Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah to fit into the team with Florian Wirtz as a number 10 in behind, Ekitike is not worried. There will be more than enough minutes for everyone.

"When you play for the best teams, you inevitably expect to be competing with the best players," Ekitike said while on international duty with France, via the Evening Standard.

"Isak is a player I used to watch, so seeing him arrive is a pleasure. It's going to be tough competition, but I'm going to work hard to be good and perform well so that it's just the coach's problem."

Liverpool sold Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich this summer and then let Darwin Nunez join Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia. It also tragically lost Diogo Jota.

Liverpool forward Hugo Ekitike (Image: FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)

So while spending big on two number nines perhaps looked like something that was a luxury rather than a necessity, Slot could not leave himself short of attacking firepower.

Last season, he had six senior forwards to choose from and always had a way of changing the game from the bench. This season, the arrival of Isak has ensured that remains the case.

After Isak came in, Harvey Elliott was allowed to leave to join Aston Villa. Federico Chiesa ended up staying put after a tricky debut campaign, while Rio Ngumoha, now 17, has emerged as a serious option after a breakout summer.

"I think that was the right moment," Ekitike said when he was confirmed as a Liverpool player. "I came to the Bundesliga hungry, I wanted to show that I’m a good player and I can make the difference on the pitch.

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"I think I did well last season. Now, I feel ready to make a bigger step and to play on the highest level, to improve myself, to see what I can do. That’s why I think it’s the right timing for me and the perfect moment to come here.

"I feel very proud. Obviously it’s a big, big club. I’m just excited, I’m a bit like a kid. I’ve been dreaming to come and play in the Premier League. And to play for Liverpool is a big, big good feeling for me. I just can’t wait to start to play games and to win trophies."

Liverpool.com says: Ekitike can play wide and Isak won't play every minute. Had Liverpool not managed to get Isak over the line, it would have been worryingly short; as it is, it looks like the Reds have a good balance in that department, with plenty of goals and quality.

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Northern Ireland succumbed to a 3-1 defeat by Germany on Saturday night as two Reds went head to head in Cologne.

Florian Wirtz and Conor Bradley may be teammates at Anfield, but they were on opposite sides during the World Cup qualifier, and it was the former who came out on top, scoring a sensational free-kick to help seal a win.

Northern Ireland was the clear underdog going into the game, despite Germany's recent struggles, and the team gave a good account of itself in defeat. Liverpool defender Bradley was tasked with playing at right wing-back, and received praise for his performance from Northern Ireland-based reporters.

Belfast Live handed Bradley a seven out of 10 in its player ratings, saying he produced an "energetic display," while the Belfast Telegraph awarded the youngster an eight ouf ot 10, saying: "Like his comrades, was expected to perform a deeper role against better opponents. Needed treatment for facial injury.

"Was part of disciplined defense in first half, made some big tackles and eventually booked for challenge on Gross."

Bradley was disappointed with the defeat as he felt as though the team deserved to take something from the game.

“We’re disappointed,” said Bradley. “They are a good team but I thought we played well on the night, especially in the first half, and I’m disappointed because I thought we should have got more than that.

“I don’t think they were overly great on the night. I don’t think we lost because they were brilliant. I thought we lost because obviously the goals weren’t great that we conceded.”

Wirtz's stunning free-kick rubber-stamped Die Mannschaft's victory, and while Bradley recognized the quality on show from his club teammate, he didn't believe the free-kick should have been awarded in the first place.

Florian Wirtz scored a great free-kick (Image: 2025 Getty Images)

“The third one was a brilliant free-kick by Flo,” he admitted. “But I don’t think it was a free-kick.

"So, it’s disappointing but we will see them in Belfast in a month’s time.”

The goal will no doubt be a welcome boost to Wirtz's confidence after a few weeks during which he has been firmly under the spotlight.

Wirtz's transfer fee was always going to mean that he would be scrutinized at Liverpool, particularly during the early weeks of his Reds career.

Despite his great goal against Northern Ireland, the quality of Wirtz's overall display on the night was questioned by some German media outlets, with one even suggesting he had forgotten the joy of playing soccer.

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Liverpool duo Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo both played the full 90 minutes for the Netherlands on Sunday in a tricky fixture for the Dutch — a narrow victory over Lithuania.

Two goals up and cruising, the Netherlands let slip that 2-0 lead before half-time. Memphis Depay was then needed to edge his side in front again in the second half when he became his country's highest-ever goalscorer, overtaking Robin van Persie.

And Van Dijk and Gakpo received contrasting verdicts from the Dutch media following the game. Gakpo played well, setting up the opening goal and hitting the crossbar in the second half, but Van Dijk was criticized slightly.

National paper De Telegraaf was quick to praise Gakpo, giving the Liverpool winger a rating of 7/10 and labeling him "once again the best player" despite Depay netting a brace.

Gakpo was described as being "the solution" for the Netherlands, even if Lithuania was doubling up on him. The Liverpool ace was a valuable attacker in keeping possession and dragging his team up the pitch.

Van Dijk was awarded a 6.5/10 rating. The 34-year-old "didn't do anything spectacular" and was "lucky" that an error did not lead to a goal, with other Dutch outlets in agreement.

Cody Gakpo on Netherlands duty, speaking to ESPN in September 2025

Algemeen Dagblad gave the captain a rating of just 5/10, saying how he was almost the reason they let a two-goal lead slip away.

And Football Oranje said he "struggled" quite a lot throughout the game and that it was "not his finest evening".

The latter said Gakpo was the "biggest threat" for his side. Midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, meanwhile, was an unused substitute, which is no bad thing for Liverpool as he will be better rested.

The Netherlands are now top of their qualifying group, level on points with Poland but having played a game less. In October, they will play Malta and Finland, by which time Jeremie Frimpong should be fit again and able to be involved.

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Elsewhere, Germany beat Conor Bradley's Northern Ireland with Florian Wirtz netting a sensational free-kick. Giorgi Mamardashvili also kept a clean sheet for Georgia as it beat Bulgaria.

Liverpool.com says: Gakpo has had a good start to the season and he is a really strong runner with the ball. He tends to make an impact in the final third too.

Van Dijk, meanwhile, has been excellent for Liverpool in the early parts of the season. He always draws criticism from the Dutch media and pundits, no matter how he plays for his country, and so Arne Slot will be far from concerned.

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