Liverpool record signing Alexander Isak was absent from their narrow 1-0 triumph over Burnley on Sunday. The Reds required Mohamed Salah's stoppage-time penalty to overcome the 10-man Clarets as Arne Slot's outfit climbed back to the Premier League summit.

The Sweden striker was omitted from the matchday squad at Turf Moor, with Hugo Ekitike persisting in spearheading the attack. Isak joined up with his new team-mates in training for the first time ahead of the clash with the promoted outfit following his deadline day switch. Speaking after the match, Slot confirmed the choice was taken with the striker's conditioning in consideration and the necessity to avoid rushing his return after his period training alone.

Nevertheless, the Reds manager suggested that Isak might make his bow during Wednesday's Champions League opener against Atletico Madrid.

"If you start a season when the players have been off for five weeks, you give them a certain base before they are able to play 45 minutes," said Slot.

"We got him from Newcastle in a state where you could see his pre-season was going to start now, then he needs proper minutes of training before he has a certain base, let alone for him to play twice in three days.

"We try to prepare players at the beginning of the season to play once a week and then we try to do more before the rhythm of three games a week.

"Alex is far from ready for that schedule of three games in a week but we could use him today for five minutes and Wednesday 10 and then 15, but we don't believe that is the way to build him up.

"In Sweden they did the right thing by giving him good sessions without playing him a lot and we did the same so now he will be able to play 45 on Wednesday as a minimum or a little bit more.

"But if he plays 45 on Wednesday, don't expect him to play 45 or more on Saturday (against Everton) as his body is not prepared for that."

The Premier League champions have six fixtures before the next international break in October as they tackle the La Liga outfit before welcoming Everton in the first Merseyside derby of the season on Saturday and then Southampton in the Carabao Cup.

If Isak doesn't play against Atletico, he will be hoping for minutes from the bench against Everton. His first start could then come in the League Cup at Anfield.

However, before heading into next month's break, Liverpool must navigate three consecutive away encounters against Crystal Palace, Galatasaray and Chelsea.