Slot’s bench call: why Isak stayed out as Liverpool faced Eindhoven
26 November 2025
Context and Decision
Liverpool’s manager Arne Slot provided a clear reason for keeping Alexander Isak on the bench in the home clash with PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League group stage.
The match, played at Anfield, marked the fifth group game, with Liverpool aiming to consolidate their position after a mixed run of results.
With nine points and a slim gap to the top of the group, Slot emphasized the need to balance minutes across a demanding squad, allowing others to contribute on the night.
Isak had featured sparingly in recent weeks, gradually building match sharpness, and Slot suggested it would be unwise to force him into a rhythm before he was fully ready.
Isak’s Journey and Liverpool’s Outlook
The Sweden international has navigated a storied path through top clubs. Born in 1999 in Solna, he rose through AIK, moved to Borussia Dortmund, shone on loan at Zwolle, and then starred for Real Sociedad before a record transfer to Newcastle United in 2022. In 2025, Liverpool secured him for a club-record fee, hoping the move would unlock a prolific era in English football.
Like many young stars, Isak faced a period of adjustment after joining a new league and a team with high expectations. His goal tally in the Premier League didn’t explode immediately, and his only league-level strike to date came earlier against Southampton in cup competition. Yet he remains confident in his ability to rediscover his best form.
Slot framed the decision to rotate by stressing the squad’s depth: with nine other players performing well, pushing Isak into the starting XI was not a necessity on this occasion. The plan was to preserve energy and confidence across a busy campaign.
Anthony Elanga, a teammate and Sweden compatriot, offered supportive remarks, underscoring Isak’s quality and the importance of trust and time. He pointed out that a hefty transfer fee doesn’t automatically unlock instant superstardom and that patience can be a virtue in football.
Isak’s career arc—AIK to Dortmund, to Zwolle, to Real Sociedad, to Newcastle, and finally to Liverpool—reads like a textbook of modern European football migrations. His ability to adapt, link play, and finish remains evident even as he works to translate potential into consistent production at Anfield.
In sum, Slot’s rotation approach reflects a long-term strategy: manage minutes, cultivate form, and maintain a balance that allows the team to contend on multiple fronts while a young star finds his comfortable stride. If the price tag is an obstacle, the patience of fans and teammates might just be the best assist Isak can receive this season.
Punchline 1: If minutes were currency, Isak would be minted—the real question is when he cashes in his first big goal for Liverpool.
Punchline 2: Liverpool’s transfer budget may dazzle, but a single correct run and finish from Isak will make the price tag look like loose change in a sugar jar.
