I have to admit, this quote from Graham Potter has caught my attention.
Not because Sweden’s manager doesn’t rate Alexander Isak.
Quite the opposite.
Potter clearly sees Isak as one of his most important players.
The problem for Liverpool is just how much he intends to use him during this international break.
Speaking ahead of Sweden’s upcoming Nations League fixtures, Potter was asked about Isak’s workload and whether the Liverpool striker could start every game.
His answer was pretty clear.
> “Alex has played a lot of games lately, is in a good place and as I know him he wants to start games, but we need to see how everyone is, how they react and recover.”
Then came the bit that will probably make Liverpool supporters sit up.
Can Isak start every game?
“Potentially yes.”
But Potter immediately added an important caveat.
“But there’s no chance he will play all the minutes.”
And honestly, that is probably the best possible interpretation of the situation.
Because Isak has started the season brilliantly.
He already has four Premier League goals in five games, including the winner against Bournemouth before the international break. That means he has already surpassed his entire Premier League goal tally from last season, when he scored three times in 14 appearances.
He also scored twice against Ipswich earlier in the campaign, with Cody Gakpo providing both assists.
This is the Isak Liverpool were hoping they were going to get when they spent the huge money to bring him to Anfield.
He looks sharper.
He looks fitter.
He looks more confident.
And, most importantly, he is scoring goals.
So I can understand why Potter wants him on the pitch.
Isak himself apparently wants to play as much as possible too.
That’s another thing worth remembering.
Players at this level don’t necessarily want to be wrapped in cotton wool.
They want to play.
They want rhythm.
They want goals.
And Isak has certainly found some rhythm at Liverpool.
But there is a difference between starting matches and playing every minute of every match.
Potter appears to understand that.
If Isak starts a game and then comes off after 60 or 70 minutes, that’s very different from playing four consecutive 90-minute matches during an international break.
And Potter has specifically said that there is no chance of Isak playing every minute.
For Liverpool, that has to be the important part.
Because let’s be honest, we’ve seen what happens when Isak isn’t available.
His first season at Anfield was badly disrupted by injuries and fitness problems, and he managed only 1,032 minutes across 22 appearances for Liverpool last season, according to This Is Anfield.
Now we’re finally seeing him build some momentum.
And with Hugo Ekitike sidelined for a long period, Liverpool need Isak.
They really do.
That’s why I don’t think Liverpool supporters should panic about Potter saying he could start all four games.
The key word is start.
Starting four matches does not automatically mean playing 360 minutes.
Potter has already acknowledged that.
And I’d much rather have an Isak who starts three or four games but is carefully managed than one who plays every possible minute and returns to Liverpool completely exhausted.
There is also a bigger picture here.
Liverpool’s attack is still not completely clicking under Andoni Iraola.
We’ve seen the defensive improvement.
We’ve seen the clean sheets.
But going forward, Liverpool are still trying to find the right combinations between Isak, Gakpo, Wirtz, Barcola and the rest.
And Isak is becoming the one constant.
He has four league goals already.
He has shown he can score different types of goals.
And against Bournemouth, when Liverpool weren’t particularly convincing, he was the man who produced the moment that won the game.
That’s exactly why Liverpool fans will be watching Sweden’s team selections closely.
Potter has made his position clear.
Isak is fit.
Isak wants to play.
And Potter is willing to start him.
But he won’t play every minute.
That’s the part I’m holding onto.
Because Liverpool don’t need Alexander Isak to prove anything during this international break.
We already know what he can do.
What Liverpool need is for him to come back to Anfield fit, healthy and ready for what is going to be a massive run of fixtures.
The goals have started.
Now let’s just make sure they keep coming for Liverpool.
Jamie (The Kopite View)
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